The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-10-16
CHAPTER XXXVIII

After tossing in bed for two or three
hours she got up, dressed, and went
down into the hotel lobby. Roam Al
ford passed through it, on his way
from the bar to the street. The
gray-haired little mans beady eyes
fastened on the girl.
what you doing up this time of
night, Miss Elem" he asked. "You
don't want to be losing yore beauty
sleep, though gosh, I dom reckon
you got any need to worry about
that"
st can't rest, Mr.. Afford. I'm wor-
ried about father. want to go
back to the ranch, where I'll be
nearer him if anything happens.
There amt a thing going to hap
pen to Lane" he promised. ''Nei-
ther side is unfriendly to him."
Anyhow, I want to go back. Do
you know anybody leaving for there
tonight"
81 am. Right away. But you
don't want to go traipsing off in the
middle of the night. Wait till morn
ing and go up then, if you got to CO."
81 want to go now. If you'll let
me ride with you, I can get
horse" Ellen gave him her most
wheedling smile.
''Sure you can ride with me. Only
I wouldn't want you to go if yore
father would have objections"
They rode through the night,
sometimes in darkness and again
under the shine of a moon that had
escaped from behind the scudding
clouds. It was long ride, and they
reached Black Butte in the small
hours just before the faint light of
early morning had begun to sift into
the sky.
AS they rode up through the dark
ness TO the ranch house Roam caught
at the rein of Ellen's horse and
pulled it to halt.
''Wait minute. There's some
one thereon the porch
Already Ellen's gaze had picked
up two horses at the side of the
building, vague and shadowy in the
gloom. The object on the porch
stirred. It was a man. Or was it
two men?
who is it?" Afford called.
Calhoun Terry the answer
came.
A pulse began to beat in the girls
throat.
as that father with your" she
asked.
Terry rose from where he had
been kneeling. '''No. Your father
is all right, Miss Carey. This a
wounded man. He slipped out of
the Wagonwheel Gap Ranch with a
message, and they wounded him as
he was trying to get through the
lines"
''The Wagonwheel Gap" she re-
peated.
eyes. Ellison's men are surround
ed there. They want a telegram
sent to the Governor"
Has there been a battle?"
mot yet. The settlers are be-
sieging the invaders, who are pretty
well forted up. I'm afraid there
will be heavy loss of life if the
troops don't stop it."
Where is father?"
"He is with Bill Herriott's men.
We offered to mediate, but they
wouldn't let u.s. -
Ellen looked down at the man on
the floor. ''Is he badly hurt?" she
asked.
''Shot in the leg. Could you take
him in here, until can arrange to
have him moved?"
''Of course. Mr.. Afford will help
you carry him upstairs. I will get a
light"
81 hate to trouble you, ma'am,"
Yancey said.
Don't worry about that" she told
him.
The men carried him upstairs and
put him to bed They dressed the
wound as best they could, after
which Ellen joined Calhoun on the
porch.
''I'l rope one of your horses, if
you don't mind" he said to her.
81 have to get this message off to
the Governor"
She took instant alarm. you're
not going back to Round Top?"
mo. I'll send the telegram from
Jim Creek. It would probably be
held up if I tried to get it oft from
Round Top"