The Ely miner., 1935-06-06
w INTER RANGE

Maybe that time, Sdlu Aeutucky,
sis coming quicker than you think"
"When it does come. I'll make my
play, and I'll make it stick. In the
meantime-think twice, you, befors
you buck mel You can make plenty
trouble if you want; I've got no doubt
of that. But it's you that'll burn If
you dol"
''Reassure yourself" Kentucky told
him. IF I can't make finish play,
I'll make no play at ALL"
II don't know" said the sheriff, shut
what you'll go little farther than
that If you know what's good for you"
"You mean"
The sheriff's voice was low, but his
words had more force than If he had
thundered. II mean you'll sit out Of
this altogether"
81 told you what I'm going to do"
Kentucky said shortly. He was in a
hurry now to be on his way; he want
ed to hit the Bar Hook road before the
final closing of the dark.
The sheriff shouted at him, "You in
fernal-"
The door came open, shuddering as
it broke clear from the ice that had
formed at the sill.
The man who stamped the snow off
his boots upon the threshold was
straight-backed and lean-shouldered; !;
his age was indeterminate-he might
have been forty, or he might have been
much more. He had clean-cut, knife
carved face, set with blue eyes as clear
and penetrating as sharp bits of ice.
And he radiated driving, thrusting
energy, so definite as to convey an al
most physical sense of impact.
Floyd Hopper said without warmth,
Hello, Elliot; and Kentucky Jones
said, ''Howdy, Bob"
Kentucky Jones had always been on
good terms with Bob Elliot before; but
now Elliot looked over the other with
a coolly noncommittal eye. Il heard"
Bob Elliot said, "you got yourself a
job today?"
"That's So"
"Bar Hook?"
"YeS."
The boss of the SS looked Kentucky
over again slowly, with a certain bleak
irony. Then abruptly he turned away.
breaking into the Notwithstanding
cachinnations which passed with him
for laughter. 1t consisted Of shaking
of shoulders and a series of coughing
sounds, accompanied by general
nainn6 aroaIynh- lnnly hr1f M
preston Of enjoyment. While this
went on he always turned away from
his companions as if the unaccustomed
onslaught in truth seized him against
his will.
The paroxysm died away. sand with
a face like that" Bob Elliot was able
to say at last. "Oh, naturally! Oh,
of course!"
"I've found it a useful face for
fighting wolf," Kentucky agreed
equally. "Still, I don't see"
"Just the brand" said Bob Elliot,
that always goes loco over the near
est gimlet-headed girl"
There was quiet while a man could
count fifteen. "I'm going to finish
rolling this cigarette" said Kentucky
Jones, "and I'm going to roll it right.
Then I'm going to see if still feel the
same way about that last remark. And
if do-I'm going to smash your teeth
down your throat"
Maybe you are" said Bob Elliot,
without emotion. "Floyd, hear some
body rustled the bullet that killed
John Mason"
"Uh, huh" said Hopper.
I'm not sure that I saw that done,
Floyd" said Elliot, disregarding Ken
lucky now, ''but think maybe that I
did; and / think so more and more"
Sheriff Floyd Hopper came awake.
'Who was it?"
81 don't want to name name," said
Bob Elliot, unless we can make a
test to see If Pm right If I'm right,
the party that took the bullet passed
it on to another; and don't think this
second one passed it on. I don't know
but what he's just dumb enough to
have it STILL"
"And where is it?' said the sheriff
81 think" Bob Elliot said. "that you'll
find the bullet that killed Mason in the
clothes of this man here: Kentucky
JONES'"
The three were motionless for mo-
ment. The sheriff stared from one OF
them to the other. Look here"
''That settles it," said Kentucky. He
smashed Bob Elliot across the face with
his open hand.
The owner Of the S8 staggered
against the wall, spun half around with
the weight of that open-handed slap,
Jones said, ''Take care of YOURSELF
Elliot's hand made whipping snatch
at the gun at his right thigh as Kerr
lucky struck again, this time with his
closed left hand. Elliot's head snapped
back: he seemed to teeter for mo-
ment, face upward, then buckled at
the knees and went to the floor like
a dropped saddle blanket.
"For G-d's sake get out of here"
said the sheriff. "Get out of this town!
He'll kill you when he comes up."
ITO BE CONTINUED)