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

Presently Mark Ferris voice came
over the wire, querulous and faint. 81
can't find any record of that gum" he
said. Il don't believe ever sold that
gun, Kentuck."
"You must have sold it." Kentucky
insisted. Look here, Ferris-this Is
no joke! Look again, will your"
'All right"
Kentucky hung up and went to sit
opposite Jean at the table where she
was at work.
II suppose by this time," she began,
"you have no end of theories about
what happened here"
II used to know an old lion hunter,
name of Old Man Coffee" Kentucky
told her. Whenever killing or some
thing had everybody else balled up,
they used to send for Old Man Coffee.
He didn't always unravel the trail; but
he seemed to see through lot of
things that fooled other folks. And
once asked him how he did it.
"He said he made things easy for
himself by never having a theory-he
just kept hunting up facts, and when
he had enough to give him the answer,
there wasn't any theory about 1.-THE
knew. Me, I think Old Man Coffee,s
way was a good way"
She stopped work and studied him.
II can't make you out" she said at
last. you mean-you have no idea
Of your own who killed Mason-or
lack Sanders-or why?"
Child" he said, show long is it go
ing to be before you tell somebody
anybody-what you know?"
She looked at him suddenly as she
answered.; and he knew that she lied
to him, bravely, and with open eyes.
Il haven't the least idea what you
mean," she said.
"All right. But I ought to tell you
this-if | stay here much longer, I'll
know who killed Mason-and why"
"You-you're sure of that?"
''The facts I have are very few" he
said. Il don't know where they lead.
But already 1 know they lead a clear
| straight trail. The facts are too distinct
and clear to be pointing more than one
time, but by two different calibers of
guns; this house being searched; the
| fact that the two were killed at almost
| the same time, but were found lying
nearly sixty yards apart-each thing
| stands out sharp as the slot of deer
| in the snow. When those facts are final
| ly fitted together nobody will ever be
| able to blur them so that there's any
doubt"
IF you're going to turn yourself into
a spy" Jean began holly. She stopped,
checked by the steadiness of his re-
gard.
| Kentucky Jones said gently, "Who
are you shielding, Jean?"
She Strengthened and stood looking
out through the clear space in the
middle of the frosted pane. Her face
was passive, but her head was up with
fine proud carriage, and her hair was
| smoky fame. I'm glad it's over with"
she said at last. Sooner or later you
were bound to ask that, of course"
"Of course" he repeated. He could
not see that there was any sign of
loiICAihS III Iaio gin. IL w dS dS IL BIC
| could expect her whole world to come
| down around her in rafting ava
| lanche if ever she lost her grip.
She drew a deep unsteady breath.
IL was trying to talk to you about
| something else"
"Tm sorry, JEAN"
She looked at him hard. "It's nearly
| noOn," she said. I'm few minutes the
| riders will be coming in. Tell me this,
Kentucky: if you were boss of the Bar
Hook, could you save the brandt"
Il only know one way. It's a way
that most men would hesitate to take"
"And what Is that?"
ITO feed Elliot his own medicine. 1t
| would mean more riders; all Of them
tough, trouble-hunting men. 1t would
be their job to run those SS brand
cattle back where they came from; and
run them again next week, and the
week after, and every time they come
run them till their bones rattle, and
half of them are muzzle-down in the
snow. But If a man thinks he might
be squeamish about seeing empty sad
| dies come in-then he might better hes
itate some, before he takes that way"
| would your" she asked him. would
| you hesitate?'