The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-06-18

'Get DdcK over the TlQBe! ZIG
snapped at her. 81 think I've got
the best of this. Get back! Fast!"
He was hardly conscious of the sor-
rePs laundering hoofs behind him.
The rif1eman was bringing his sad
die gun to bear and the other men
brandished pistols. Con squeezed
trigger and saw the bullet kick up
dust beyond the horses hundred
yards away. Then he corrected his
aim and fired three fast shots at the
man with the rifle.
With the shots the other riders
fired quickly at him and ducked, to
dart to the side so that ten yards
separated each from his neighbor.
Their lead fell short. The rifeman
had not loosed his slug. He dropped
the carbine and swayed, holding his
body with both hands as if cold-or
suffering stomach-ache. But he
stayed with the horse and it slowed
to a trot, then a walk. Con fired
grimly at the others in turn. But
they jerked on the reins and went
farther right and left. .al-
The rifleman was now clinging to
his saddle horn. All fight seemed
gone from him. He got the horse
turned and spurred him to run.
Then the horse of the man nearest
him came down with suddenness
that catapulted his rider straight
ahead. The cowboy seemed to twist
purposefully in air and struck the
ground on his feet. He ran two long
PAGES forward before he stumbled.
Con was reloading as fast as his
fingers could jerk shells from his
belt and ram them into the loading
gate. He took three long shots at
the departing men and saw dust
Jump from one jumper. Then the
three of them disappeared and he
looked at the man on the ground,
forty yards away. He was sitting,
now, shaking his head violently.
Dear mel" Con said aloud.
"First they wanted to play, then
they wanted to go home. So they
picked up their marbles and went
away from here. Changeablest peo-
pie, Blackie! Let's 60 down and look
at this one :"
The cowboy, a slender, dark
youngster, had nose bleed. But his
head seemed to have cleared. Over
the sleeve he held to his nose his
narrow eyes regarded Con steadily.
"You damn fool!" he cried.
'What's the idee, whanging away
at us? Can't nobody ride across this
range of yours without you got to
shoot off that Winchester at 'em?"
Two yards from him, Con halted
the black horse and studied him.
"Chunk me that pretty, big pistol
you're wearing" he ordered. 81
just showed some more persuaders
into this :"
| Calmly, the cowboy took out his
pistol and tossed it from him. Con-
face hardened.
Thought it was easy picking, die
you, when the wagon rolled off? AL
you had to do was stroll down anc
pick out what you wanted, huhi
We've been waiting for you. 1
more than four of you had come
two of us would've been here"
He looked briefly at the Colt OF
the ground, then let his carbin,
rest across the saddle while h,
fished tobacco and papers from hi
pocket.
"Do' mo- what you're driving at,
the cowboy drawled. "Me and m,
friends was heading for the Bug-on
a-Stick west of here. Cigarette?"
He caught the sack and paper
and rolled cigarette while Co
watched him. Then he got up stiffly
put his hand down in natural me
ton as for a match and-it var
ished behind him, to witch bac
with a Colt, apparently drawn fror
! the rear of his waistband.
Con had not picked up his cal
bine. But he had not let the ham
mer down, either. Now, he pulle
trigger without raising it. H
, missed, but the bullet went so nea
to the cowboy that he f1inched an
. his own slug buzzed waspishly pas
Cons head. Then Con fired wit
lifted carbine, fiicked down the lie,
, er and fired again. Both shots wer
! hits; both struck over the heart. TIL
{ hideout dropped from the cowboy
fingers. He turned completed
! around and lifted one foot as if [
! walk off. But it seemed no NOR
; than reflex movement. He sagge,
: rather than fell, to the grass.
ITO BE CONTINUED)