The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-06-19
CHAPTER III

Terry frightened the saddle cinch,
taking more time over it than was
necessary. When at last he mounted
and turned his back to the men
watching him he held his horse to
walk. His enemies were not going
TO have it to say of him that he had
dragged out of town on the run.
He caught glimpse of face star
ing al him from grlmy window OF
the Red Triangle Saloon. A moment
later a gun roared. His hat tilted
forward. Through the br4m and the
crown a bullet had torn its way.
Calhoun Terry dismounted. He
walked back along the wooden side
walk, close to the wall, and pushed
through the swing doors of the Red
Triangle. They had tried to kill him
from cover. He would find out if
they would dare to do it in the open.
Three customers were at the bar.
Neutrality-suspicious.. The gaze Of
Terry picked them up In turn. It
observed also that the back door
was ajar. He had a mental vision
of somebody vanishing into the alley
swiftly a moment before his entry,
heRy-set, bowlegged man with an
ugly, sullen face.
Most Of those present were strong
y Individual, of wild and reckless
temperaments, familiar with dam
ger, and because of it they saluted In
their hearts the cynical audacity OF
the man who faced them with con-
temptuous scorn.
BY God, you take the cake, Ter
~" Brand said with hard laugh.
"You got away with it at Evans
store. Don't you reckon you're
pressing yore luck too far?"
The cattleman ignored the ques-
ton.
Didn't Lee Hart have time to
shut the door when he ran away?"
Terry asked, his voice gentle, al
most caressing.
There was a pause, too long, be-
fore Brand spoke.
Hart hasn't been here"
There was another moment of ST.
lence before Turley answered: eve
heard a shot. 1t didn't come from
here, if that's what you mean"
The cowman stretched out his left
arm and laid forefnger on the hole
N one of the panes of the window
beside him. My mistake" he said.
Fellow shot that hole IN the win
dow II a row two months ago." the
bartender explained.
Terry did some swift guessing.
The bullet which had passed through
his hat had come from a rifle. The
sound Of the shot told him that. But
Hart had been armed only with a
revolver. Therefore he had bor-
rowed the saloon Winchester. Since
he was in hurry to get away I'M
noticed, he had not taken it with
him. The weapon must still be In
the Ieom, but Calhoun's searching
eyes had not found it. Probably
somebody had passed il to the sa-
loon man, who had hurriedly put it
under the bar.
Terry held out an expectant hand.
'Give me that rife under the bar"
ne ordered.
The bartender's eyes grew big.
''Why, Mr.. Terry, II don't reck-
on"
THE rifle" interrupted Terry
coldly.
You don't have to give it to him,
Hank" Brand told the man. This
goITr,,- -;,,s4 ,-ol> = doodle dor, ~, fL,ic
town"
Apparently the bartender was of
q different opinion. He stopped down
and passed a rife across the top of
the bar.
An investigation showed that it
had been fired very recently. Terry
laughed scornfully and handed it
back to the man In the white apron.
Somebody may want it again to
shoot me In the back when I leave"
he said.
Terry's gaze passed to rest on
Afford. I'm little surprised at
you. Roam. When was your neigh
Dor you wouldn't have stood back Of
a scoundrel who tried to shoot an
other man in the back"
Afford shifted uneasily on his feet.
A flush crept up into his wrinkled
face. 'I don't stand back of any
body doing it now" be said.
Calhoun Terry gave him long,
keen look. He could see that the
little man was embarrassed and
ashamed.
IT get il, Roam. Lee took you by
surprise. Didn't give you time to
stop him."
He let his cold eyes sweep the
room again disdainfully, then turned
and pushed through the swing doors.
Walking to his horse, he mounted
and rode away at road gait.
CHAPTER "
Though II was not yet seven
o'clock the morning sun flooded the
7,-,5 zx-ITH light ca still yuyac Xba civ