The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-02-01

back.
Wen, nowi This was something else
again. Men had been coming, edging
cautiously near during the brief argu-
ment between Elliott and Nicholas
Brandon. But when Brandon. the man
who ruled lineup and its county, was
seen lifted from his feet and tossed
ANONYMOUSLY into the mud. trampled
by his horses, stirred by the wheels
of his wagons md tractors, the street
which led through his town, to his
mill =. Well. then they came a-run-
ningi
Bird-Eye cackled an impudent laugh
and turned to watch the faces OF the
vanguard who came to see their Hege
lord, sprawled in the mud there, scram-
| bic TO his feet Their voices were
raised in incredaiity. In two decades
and more no man save Bird-Eye Blaine
| had dared lift even his voice in Tin
cup in other than respect for Nicholas
Brandon And now this stranger had
picked him up and thrown him away
But Brandon was up, lurching for
| the sidewalk where Ben Elliott stood,
| legs spread, fists clenched but with
| good humor reposseSsed and grinning
as he had grinned at Bull Duyal; grin
| Ming as a man viii who loves combat
| for its own sake and not at all as one
| who fights in red rage.
| However his smile faded and his jaw
settled as Brandon uplifted his face in
| that rush. Murder was there, in the
black eyes, in the loose hanging of the
lower lip. in the purple flush Of his
cheeks Murder, and no less. AS quick
| ~ as that homicidal look had come, il
passed Something like fear swept
those eyes. driving it away.
Brandon halted abruptly. His fists
relaxed into hands and with one OF
them he brushed rather aimlessly al
mud on his sleeve.
A dozen men were close. then, hold
/ ing back, watching, waiting, listening
Others were coming; many more
pounding over the walk, splashing
through melting 2uddles, keyed &c
grand excitement And as Brandon
halted, looking up into Eliott's face
and evidently fighting for self-cont-ol
| one of these new arrivals pushed to
the front and came up Importantly.
whats the matter, Mr.. Brandon? p
he asked sharply, with the manner OF
one ready TO render service.
Brandon did not reply ar once. He
settled his coat on his shoulders.
Sheriff, arrest this young man i'm.
mediately," he said then. "I'l swear &c
a complaint Of assault and battery my.
self"
A sigh of relief, of disappointment
| OF laxing tension, or OF all these com
bined. went up from the growing group
The sheriff turned to Elliott and
touched his arm significantly.
You'd better come along, Elliott,
he said. You took in too much terri
tory"
/ Ben looked about almost foolishly
| He was embarrassed and surprised He
| had expected a rough-and-tumble fight
/ in what he considered a righteous
cause and surely he was the sort who
would have been on familiar ground il
such an encounter. But here he was
with a sheriff pIucking at his sleeve
He laughed a bit sheepishly.
~An right Sheriff. If it's arrestins
you run TO here in lineup, likely In
it"
He turned for his pack-sack and a;
/ he did so observed old Don Stuart
sitting weakly on the step of the va
cant store building before which the
scene had been enacted. Perspiratio1
beaded his waxen face and his quicE
breath came through open. colorles:
lips. he was obviously a sick man and
trouble clouded Elliott's eyes.
Minute. Sheriff be said and crossed
TO Don. thrusting one hand into a pants
pocket.
Here, old timer" be said gently
The hand came out and into Stuart:
palm he pressed thin packet of bill:
and some change. Get one of your OLE
buddies Here you ,''-straighten
ing and reckoning Bird-Eye, who ap
preached with alacrity. Get the oil
| timer 10 a hotel Better get a docror
too. Hes heeled enough to take cars
of himself few days. After that =.
| well see"
He turned then and fastened sewers
gaze on Brandon.
And you, chum, let him aloneT hs
/ warned until a doctor says he car
travel, you watch your step with him :
But Brandon ignored this. He wa.
buttoning his coat, pushing his wa!
through the group, which fell aside re
| specially.
"All right. Sheriff" said Ben TO thai
worthy. Lets gor'