The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-08-28
CHAPTER XIV

70 the camp among the pines.
Couple of fellows brought some
freight in for Mr.. McFaddin and
then Lit out like the heel flies were
after them he said. ''The other
boys are chasin' them. They acted
right funny"
McFaddin and Ellison stepped for
ward.
Pm not looking for any freight, :"
the Flying v c man said. But that s
my horse all right. 1t has been
loose on the range with bunch OF
others"
The Texan released the diamond
hitch and whipped off the tarp. A
body slid to the ground. Those pres
ent stood staring at what they saw.
Ellison leaned over him. IT.
Jack Turley, one Of our stock de-
tectives," he said.
by God, they got the double
crossing killer" McFaddin said
bluntly.
From the coat pocket Ellison drew
the note Morgan had written.
Here is yore killer" he read,
"come back to report.
Collins looked at Ellison. $50 this
fellow was the killer"
That's a closed chapter the No,
By Joe manager replied.
CLOSED for Turley," McFaddin
snapped. Whoever did this has got
his nerve, bringing the body to our
camp. And how did they know we
were here? It's supposed to be Sc
Cret.'
They looked around at one anoth-
er, startled.
I'VE had better move fast, !"
Gaines said. after being chased off
the map these two fellows must sus-
pect something"
Lets CO." McFaddin said with
a sardonic laugh. 1--WE don't have
to wait any longer for Turley to
guide US. He's here. A little late
for ms appointment with us, but l
reckon he couldn't help that"
They were off to an inauspicious
start. To most of them the arrival
of Turkeys dead body, with the
crisp, jeering note attached, was a
bad omen they found it hard to
shake off.
The regulators, as the invaders
called themselves, looked to their
cinches and mounted. From the
prong they wound up through the
pines into a country of open range
too wild for homesteaders. The
spread was too rocky and too hilly
to invite settlers. Presently they
would cross a mountain spur from
which they would drop down into a
district of gulches, rock rims, and
small valleys where at not too ire
quent intervals a few nesters and
cow thieves held the fort unmolest-
ed, except when posses from the
big ranches came hunting stock that
was missing. On Ellison's list were
the names of a dozen men who lived
IN this section. He and his allies
meant to wipe out as many OF these
as they could in a few hours and
sweep on up to the neighborhood OF
the big ranches, where they would
FestabEsh a base for operations.
They struggled forward in no for
nation. Ellison and McFaddin In
the van. From a long, rocky slope
they came into a little mountain
park. not far from the summit,
saucer-shaped depression fringed on
the far side with jack pines. Just
beyond this was the backbone of the
spur they we're climbing.
McFaddin lifted a shout of warn
ing and whipped up his rife. Two
men had appeared on the rim and
started to ride down, but at sight Of
the large company pulled up and
turned. One of them flung up a
hand IN protest as the Flying V c
mans gun cracked. The echoes of
that shot rolled across the valley.
A sorrel horse stumbled and flung
his rider, then raced across the slope
with reins flying wild. The man
who had given the Indian peace
sign called to his companion. It
was almost as though the dismount-
ed man had bounced back from the
ground, so quickly was he on his
feet. He ran a few steps along the
hillside and vauIted to the back of
the Uninjured horse behind his
friend. Three or four Texans fired,
but the horse and its double load
reached the rim and vanished.
Giving the cowboys ''Hi-yi-yippy-
yil'' McFaddin brought his cow
pony to a canter and pursued. The
others followed him. From the sum-
nit they looked down on tangle
of huddled hills, little valleys, and
dark canyons. The terrain looked
like ideal cover for outlaws. A man
who knew the district might hide
for weeks IN unsupported pockets.
A roam horse, carrying two men,
was travelling fast down the side of
the spur but was already showing
signs of distress.
We've got 'em!" yelled McFad-
din. Come on, boys"
Just ahead was a little clearing
with a log cabin on the edge of a
creek. a man had appeared from
behind it driving a few cattle. He
was at casual ease, IN no hurry
whatever. At the sound of the roar
ing guns he swung his head, took in
the situation, and instantly forgot
there was such thing as leisure
IN the world. While the fugitives
were still a good two hundred yards
distant he jumped his horse to a
gallop and vanished up draw.
The hunted men flung themselves
from the back of the horse and ran
into the house. The door slammed
behind them. The pursuers dragged
their horses to a halt and many of
them dismounted. Frightened by the
firing, the horse of the men In the
cabin splashed through the creek