The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-30


stood! I'll count Ezra out because
he's =. he's an old man.
Il don't s'pose you knew he was
packed up, ready to haul, did you?"
Holt, you mean?"
ayes, Holt" Tod West was edging
up behind Bridger, frowning, nudging
the sheriff. Yes, Holt Stuart! Pack
sack nd suit cases all strapped up
Nd l come on him writin' this :.
writin' it to Nan Downer, who's ben
away today. Listen to this !"
He read: "'Dear Nan: 1t looks as If
I'd stayed on here too long, now, and
by staying, risked all kinds of disaster
-.
He'd got just that far when l bust
ed in on him. Now, you got any cock,
'nd-bull story to explain that?"
''Why should / have an explana,
| tion?"
81 wondered !"-edging closer with an
expression of craft which Kerry, in
that moment of confused thought, did
not detect-"I wondered, Young, after
l heard you done your best to drive
the states chief witness out of the
country this" . 4.
Here! What the devilw
Young grunted as he began to strug-
gle. Butch, the deputy, had him from
behind. Bridger had grasped one wrist
in both his hands; Tod West stepped
in to secure him, to help hold him de-
spite his first amazed struggles.
"What comes OFF," Kerry demanded
whats the big idea, Bridger?"
The sheriff was reaching for hand
cuffs. A leer came about his mouth,
1--WE got Stuart as a suspect in a
murder case" he said loudly, Ind I'm
takin' you, Young, for interferin' with
a witness in that very self-same case p
Cool steel encircled Kerry'S wrists
the ratchets clicked.
"Why, this is the damnedest, most
far fetched outrage"
you tell all that to the judge!"
snapped Bridger. Here, you boys, get
back, now! Stand away. Butch md
me, we got to get these two into a
cell. . Stand back, boys!"
He whirled to Kerry.
"You got tn CUTS to deny that you
drove Frank Bluejay out of town this
afternoon? Have you even got tn
brass 20 explain that?"
Young was breathing hard. Con-
fusion and dismay lay heavily upon
him. He looked from Bridger to Tod
West and his lip curled. The man,
with his swollen face. was glaring at
him, triumphant for the moment, be-
cause his agile mind had turned events
off that course which, had it been fol-
lowed, might have overwhelmed him.
Eyes, try to explain that, if you
canw West growled.
Kerry squared his shoulders.
Perhaps 1 can, Tod West" he said
lowly. Perhaps l can! Tomorrow's
another day, remember"
And handcuffed, with Bridger jerk
ing him toward the open touring car
in which he was to ride, a prisoner, in
to the county seat, he laughed bitterly,
defantly. =.
Old Ezra, nervous fingers twisting
strands of beard. came close as Stuart
was helped into the back seat, and
Young ordered in beside the driver.
Hold everything, Ezra!" Kerry said.
"You sleep on that stuff! Understand?
Guard it with your life, If necessary.
See me in the morning and . and
take care of Nan"
His voice dropped on this last and
he averted his eyes from the doctors
face ....
Tip, still sitting on the seat of Ezra's
car, watched with stiff ears as this
other automobile moved away. The
crowd, after that departure, began to
buzz loudly. Doctor Adams carefully
gathered the pieces of material evil
dence they had found and carried them
into Mans office.
The dog whined a little, staring at
the way his master had taken. Slowly,
almost tentatively at first, he took the
road; stopped once and shifted the air.
Then, at a rolling lope, he disappeared
beyond the sawmill, headed for Shoe
string.
The ride into town was one long sue
cession of unsuccessful attempts on the
part of Bridger to make one or the
other of his prisoners talk.
"Just where were you all day Thurs
day, Holt?" he asked in a patent at
tempt at ingratiation.
go to blazesw
ONo1u thot in, Nfobhu
it'll be best for you to tell me. /
could do lot of good if"
''Oh, shut up!"
Bridger shrugged and smiled to him.
self. Car tools, loose on the floor
boards at Kerry's feet, clanked and
ratified as they took the bumps.
Now, Young, you'd ought to come
clean for Hollis sake, about why you
run this breed"
TELL him to 60 to hell, Holt" Kerry
chuckled.
Again and again as they progressed
through the dusk, Nat made his in.
adept attempts to worm information
from the two. After a time when.
ever he opened his lips, the two chant.
ed in solemn measure:
go to hell"
"Well then.'' Bridger finally snapped
"if there's any goin' to hell to be
done by this gang I'll leave it to
anybody with eyes to see who's or
the road."
They swung through town, around
to the rear of the Jail and entered by
side door.
Butch and Bridger took their posses
sions from the prisoners and ushered
them into the bull-pen.
Pick out your own BEDS" the sher
iff jeered unpleasantly.
You'll have the place TO yourselves
likely. And hope you like it, both Of
you!"
1t was not long before excited citi
ZenS commenced TO arrive They