The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-07-02
CHAPTER XVIII


Con had a chance to look at the
rest of the casa principal when,
after supper, Mrs. Tension led them
into the great front room with its
fireplace across an end, and vivid
Navajo rugs everywhere. When
Mrs. Tension went to look at her
patients, he said, almost without
thinking:
This just suits me, somehow.
Il feel ike-well, it's like home"
''Then, why not make it homer"
Janet asked contemptuously, look
ing straight at him now. "a little
thought and you ought to be able to
vaguely recall this, and that, and
remember little things in your child
hood that all fit in"
81 dol" Con told her promptly.
"And he told me that he'd been In
this part of the country"
He shook his head and looked with
ugly twist of the mouth at the clga-
rette he was rolling.
You know me for what am and
you can warn the Tensions not to
believe a word I say. Or-you can
warn 'em again. Oh! Sent word to
Nevil that I'm here?"
81 haven't said a word to them!
And I haven't sent any message to
Nevil. No matter what you are,
you"
Outside, going slowly toward the
clubhouse, he kicked viciously,
blindly, at pebbles.
"rn keep out of her way" he
promised himself. 'She will have
to be leaving, sometime. I'll dodge
her until she does CO."
He thought of the rustler whom
the Martinezes had buried, for a
while, after the clubhouse was dark
and quiet. But it was as Mrs. Teni-
son had said, he decided: in fight
irfg country you hardened yourself
to fight for your own.
Perch was snoring evenly. So
was the cook. Con took his pistol
from under the mattress and went
noiselessly to the door. There was
a pale moon, now, and in the faint
light he saw a horseman going to
the corral.
When he was sure that only one
man was there, Con crossed the
space in bare feet, pistol up. The
corral gate squeaked. He waited
until sure that the man was unsad-
ding, then went forward for clos
er look. A slouching figure came
toward him, dragging rather than
carrying saddle.
who's it?" Con challenged him
softly. "Take it easy!"
Twenty" the man answered.
''This is Lanny. Topeka sent me
back. 1 got to send him Johnny
Dutch tomorrow, in my place.
got my ankle sprained and skinned
up enough that it'd take pair of
chaps to piece out my hide. But
that amt what's got me down, boy.
Hell's to pay, or going to be. Them
damn fools aim to work Helligo
Canyon this roundup. First thing!"
Con whistled softly.
eyes, sirl The Big Augers been
schenning it. Y Bar and LA and
Walking x and Sc and Al and Pig.
pen and the rest never headed for
Antelope Springs, no more'n we
done. Skull Spring was the placep'
'tWeN,'' Con said cheerfully, 81
think it's about time! Come on in.
side. Let's wawa this out some
more. Your notion is, the outfits
will slam point-on into the Canyon
and Gloomy and his gang will stay
covered and fragile our side?"
He carried the horse wrangler's
saddle for him into the bunkhouse
a. &6a
Lanny lighted the wall lamp anc
went over to sprawl on a bunk. Cor
made himself comfortable on {
bench with a cigarette. He tolc
Perch and the cook what Lanny hac
said. Perch swore softly, staring
The wrangler nodded.
Con watched him. For the frs
time IN hours, he thought of the
English penny given him by Judge
Wiley, as he had seemed to feel it.
weight when looking at little Step
But Lanny seemed sincerely trou
bled and Con could not think tina
the wrangler would have showet
so much concern over possible dam
age to the thieves. Lanny lighted ;
cigarette and sprawled fiat, easing
his sprained ankle.
st think I'll go tell old Step abou
this" Con grunted
He went over to put down hi
pistol and draw on boots. Percl
laughed grimly.
Likely, the old hellion'll kill 20
for roasting him out. You won
need the light to come in by. Bloy
it out and We'll catch up fort
winks."
Con nodded. At the door, he BILE,
out the lamp flame, then moved tt
ward the line of quiet adobes.
Con had passed the corner Of tn
corral when a soft scuff of fee
turned him mechanically. His han
went toward his belt before he r.
membered that his Colt was on tn
bunk. A man came out Of shadow