The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-07-17


the plan. Ellen Carey, daughter Of the
postmaster, Is intrigued by Jen Brand
who with Jack Turiey, another rustIer,
are most outspoken against Terry.
Z e
But JEFF Brand had no jumpy
nerves.
''You and yore crowd have been
cutting lot of mustard. Rubbing
out our friends without giving them
chance for their white alley. Not
like rattlesnakes. They give warn
ing. I always did claim there was
vermin lower than a sidewinder.
Now I've found them"
'Are you quite through" the
ranch manager asked coldly.
mot yet. I'm mentioning now that
Wen take hand in this game. Two
can play it as well as one. From
now on there's an open season on
Diamond Reverse B men and on
those of the other big outfits. Wen
be trying for the bosses, but when
we don't find them handy a plain
lunkhead waddy will do. The brake
done bust. We're off, and hell and
high water can't stop u.s."
ST wouldn't talk that way if I
were you, Brand" Terry advised
quietly.
I'm talking. You're listening.
This is message to you and to all
the other damned rascals you're
sleeping In a bed with. I'm max
ing war talk. Understand"
Calhoun Terry understood perfect
ly. The rustler was offering him a
chance to draw if he wished.
Terry shook his head. mo dice,
Brand. I don't know who killed
these men, and I'm not going to
make myself responsible for it. I
won't let you hang it on me by
forcing it as an issue. You can't
put me in the wrong that way"
The cowboy ieered at him. What
do you wear that gun beside you
for, Terry? Or don't you draw it un-
less man has his back to your"
They were close to the porch. Ter
ry knew the other two men could
hear every word Brand had said. He
felt a tunultuous boiling up of the
blood, the recklessness ready to
break out in him explosively.
Lane Carey came out on the
porch, a big weather-beaten West
erner who had fought his way
through the rough and tumble of
frontier life.
Don't be a fool, jeff" he said,
no excitement in his even voice.
Cant you see that Mr.. Terry
doesn't want to fight unless you goad
him to a showdown"
ST see he doesn't want to fight
whether I goad him or not" Brand
answered.
Terry said colby: ST choose my
own causes for fight, and won't
be Unanswered into defending as
sassins. But I'm not overly patient
when DULLES try to run over me"
Jeff isn't a bully, Mr.. Terry"
the postmaster explained placidly.
Hes some excited, and kinda went
off half-cocked. We can't rightly
blame him for that, after his friends
have been drygulched. But since
you're no party to these killings
nothing he has said applies to you" "
"You make it quite clear, Mr.. Car
ey, that he couldn't possibly have
meant me-" Terry said, with a thin,
ironic smile.
That's right, isn't it, jeff" Car
ey persisted, his quiet urgency
crowding the cowboy toward some
withdrawal of his attack. tSince Mr..
Terry isn't the guilty party, you
could not have meant him."
Carey's character and personality
gave him much influence in the
community. It was important for
the group to which Brand belonged
not to drive him into the camp oil
the enemy.
JEFF grudgingly gave ground.
what said goes for the murder,
ers, whoever they are"
Terry followed the other passen.
gers into the stage.
Turley laughed unpleasantly. "Mr,
Terry certainly took meek the worst
cussin' out ! ever heard"
Headed for the post-office, Carey
stopped in his stride.
Don't make mistake about Cal
houn Terry, boys. He's game as
they come. He was giving jeff
straight goods. Unless Cal Terry has
changed a lot from the young fellow
I used to know, he isn't hiring any,
body to rub out his enemies. If it's
to be done, he'll do it himself in the