The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-10-31
CHAPTER VII-Continued

The cabs brakes squealed. Coch-
rane thrust open its door.
The Artists and Writer'S" he
said, "and just in time to save one
very precious life"
He led me down a crooked hall
to an iron door with a wicket and
rang the bell.
"A newspaper hangout," he ex-
planned. at masqueraded as a res
taurant during prohibition. Now it
poses as speakeasy. Newspaper
men are romantic"
That's because" I told him,
"they meet so many interesting peo-
pie
Gene" Cochrane babe the face
that appeared at the wicket, ''two
hot Scotches, quick, and I'll close
the door myself"
Cochrane was slipping his second
drink and talking in low voice.
Blackbeard's body lay in the
morgue, still unidentified. The Fer
riters had been easier to trail. Lyon
and his sister had been in Alaska
where he had run combined saloon
and store on the Tanana River.
"A year ago." Cochrane went on,
ait seems lone and Lyon and new
conner, a guy named Horstman,
went prospecting, and were out all
winter. They found gold, but Horst
man got lost In a blizzard and his
body never was recovered. Lyon
sold his claim and came to New
York. He's comfortably fixed. His
sister doesn't do anything, either.
And right now, she doesn't look as
If IL agreed with her"
He made a design of wet rings
on the table with the bottom of his
glass and asked, still watching
them,
do you know anything of a tie
up between the Paget boy and
Ione?''
Why" I stalled and my voice
must have been sharp, for he
grinned.
You and l." said Cochrane,
''have the same sort of dirty mind.
The idea may lead nowhere, but
the lad comes into an inheritance
IN few days now-three million or
Whereabouts, which is no small sum
to shoot at, even in inflated curren-
cy. lone"
He broke off. A man came, walk
ing stiffiy, from the barroom. He
said, Hi, Jerry" to Cochrane,
started to pass on and then stopped,
staring at me. It was Duke of the
Sphere. I found myself disliking
him again.
Hello, Larry" Cochrane said and
his face was guileless. Have
drink?'
Thanks" Duke answered. I've
had mine"
He had. He swayed as he spoke
and kept on looking al me. We
watched each other like hostile dogs.
Cochrane said quietly:
This is David Mallory He"
We've met BEFORE" broke in.
Duke sat down with a long sigh.
Drink had turned him pale and
sweating. I knew he was trouble
hunting and felt my own temper rise
to meet his. He asked carefully, for
his tongue was thick:
Private conspiracy, or can I
horn in?"
Cochrane grinned.
II knew Dave in Omaha" he said
SO smoothly that the lie sounded
like truth. 1--we been trying to
pump him. Help yourself"
Thanks" Duke replied and
looked at me briefly. Turned in
your copy, Jerry?"
Still trying to find something to
write about"
Duke mopped his glistening face.
You had no trouble yesterday.
Why don't you let your stool loose
on young Paget's affair with Ione?"
Cochrane glanced at me and
held fast to myself. He said easily,
'Just one of Shannon's theories
There's nothing in it."
Isn't there?" Duke asked. ''The
reason this thing is locked UP so
tight is because the Pagets are in
It up to their necks. The Pagets
are people in this town. They've
got the immunity of cash and posi-
ton. If we could tear the lid off
this thing, we'd find a Grove-Ione
tie-up and probably Allegro mixed
up IN it,
got up.
IT hope" Duke said, fumbling
with his words, "that I'm not offend
ing you"
sai@ to Cochrane: