The Ely miner., 1935-02-08

OIcc. yes
Able wiped his face with a palm and
wet his lips The two looked long ar
one another and that spark passed
which will Jump from man TO man. car
ried sometimes Oy a deed, often by a
word, frequently by only glance; that
message which says as plainly as
though inscribed in black characters
against white background: Il like you
| am your friendT - II went from the
old man 10 the young and back again
from young TO old. Nicholas Brandon
understood and the lightnings In his
dark eyes played more briskly, more
ominously
"And so you'd figure lineup as q
sort of hickory nut?''
Il had. Tincup aas a reputation all
through the Lake states. Wherever you
go you'll hear ii talked about as q
hard camp. I'd heard so many times
that good mar with ideas of his own
with independence and, maybe. with
ambition had better keep away from
here that l found myself hankering to
get a look at the place"
Whats your line of worky'
Il follow the timber. Anything
"Well, just what. for instance? What
are some OF the jobs you've heId?'
Elliott smiled a bit
Good many. was a chore boy once
another time | was a road monkey.
I've teamed and sawed, worked as
millwright and on rivers. Once or twice
I've run a camp or two"
But your avocation, take it, Is
looking for hard nuts?"
Brandon spoke low:
your honorr" His voice was well
modulated and yet in its quality was
something which -uggested iron COW
cred with velvet "As complaining wit.
ness in this case. may | suggest that
we are beginning TO waste time? This
young man has pleaded guilty. OF
course. l do not want to be put in the
light Of one who attempts TO dictate
to a court of law, but l have pressing
matters TO attend to and If we can
get on. :"
outwardly this las only a sugges-
ton. plea; really, though. 1t was one
way Of demanding, Of giving an order.
Yes, you're busy man. Nick" Able
said and nodded. I'D sort Of figured
being busy here today, myself. Sort
of wondered IL somebody wouldn't
bring in Bull DuvaI on charge of as
sault and battery. He trimmed nv
man Harrington so badly that he's
gone and my operations without a
boss today. sort OF thought. being
interested as you are in law and or
der, that DuvaI might be brought in. ("
THAT is something | know nothing
about" Brandon said severely.
Likely not You can't be expected
to keep as close track Of the men who
work for you as l do of mine. That is.
it isn't reasonable 10 think a man of
your caIiber would"
He spoke drily and Elliott. watching
the two. could see that his words
stung Brandon. The justice straight
ened in his chair. however.
But maybe .Te are delaying things.
Now, Mr.. Elliott, don't you think it a
little out of the way to come into a
town, a total stranger, and upset all
that towns precedentsg If you, in
stead of one of Mr. Brandon's hired
men, had cleaned up on my man Har-
rington. for instance. il might not have
been such a grave offense. But here
you come and pick out the one man
in lineup who hasn't been struck or
even threatened in longer than | can
recaIl-a man whC is regarded here
about like most folks would regard a
baron OF the Middle ages-and toss
him 'ut into the mud! Why, Elliott,
that's not ever happened beforeI
Probably it didn't hurt Nick much,
but there are his feelings TO consider.
Aren't you ashamed OF giving people a
chance to jeer at Mr. 8randon?"
Elliott looked ar Brandon. then. de-
liberately. carefully, inspected him
fror' his glossy sIack hair to his mud
died breeches-
1T wasn't very smart thing TO do,
guess" he admitted "It's not likely
now. that I'll even get chance to see
how hard nut this town really is
And no worse than you deserved -
Able said sharply. You. know better
than to carry on that way. Elliott. I've
got TO give you a fine commensurate
with your offense. I'll fine you a dol
lar and seventy-five cents for costs Oh
send you to Jail for a day
In the rear a sacrilegious litter o,
two. From the sheriff, a grunt; from
Nicholas Brandon a breath of Of
Tended dignity and look that scorched
But on Ben Elliott's face only ap
peared a foolish smile.
That's reasonable enough" be said
but the joker is this: | haven't even
got the dolIarI'
We'll. our jaiFs real comfortable
I'm told A day there'll let you think
over the advisability OF going around
the country muddying up the pants o.
respected citizens"
Elliott. though, faced even so short q
Jail sentence with anything but relish
Il can get the money easy enough
be said THAT is If you, your honor
or somebody elseu send a wire for
me-
That might be arranged Whers
to!"