The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-03-12
CHAPTER III

SOn moved away from Lne faro
game as Nobby growled at the in
scrutable dealer to "rattle the box"
Keith Yoker grinned at him as he
passed and he nodded and smiled at
the cattle king. But inwardly he
was furious.
1--WE got to keep remembering
that this gang of toughs don't both
er with fist-fighting. Any more than
they give a square deal in the
games" he reminded himself as he
looked around the saloon for Ca
ramba.
He saw nothing of the cheerful
cowboy, but at one end of the gam
blerS' half of the huge room he al
most stumbled over a litter of equip
ment still partly Grated. He went
out into the twilight and moved up
and down the long, snaky town.
Lights were everywhere, now.
He came finally to the big two
story hotel and stopped to look
across the tracks at its veranda.
The tiny frame railway station was
just beyond. AS he stood wondering
if Caramba had really thought about
marrying Mrs. K1eiss, short combi-
nation train came through the town
and drew up at the station. Con
crossed to watch men get off, others
get on.
The tall, dark young man, Nevil
Lowe, hurried past Con, with a girl
half-running beside him. Lowe car
ried two large valises. Con looked
with interest at the girl. She was
dark-eyed, dark-haired, small and
graceful. At the step of the one
passenger car Lowe put down the
luggage and she caught him about
the neck, kissed him and let him go.
''It's going to be just a grand
tripl" she said. "But I'll miss you
terribly"
"Yes-you-will!" Lowe drawled.
He swung her up, pushed the va
Uses after her and waved. The en-
gineer sounded his whistle and as
Con turned away the train began to
move. loves wife, probably, he
decided. AS pretty girl as he
had ever seen, certainly.
He went toward the hotel and in
the door of Mrs. Kleiss' dining room
looked for Caramba.
"Welli" Caramba said from be-
hind him. ST was just hunting you!
Figured you'd be along pretty
SOON"
''What happened to your" Con de-
manded curiously.
well, Didn't I tell you I was
going out while?-I just thought
of something"
"Ah!" Con said softly, beginning
to grin.
Before Caramba could answer,
Nevl Lowe and bustling lit
tie woman came into the stair hall
from the veranda.
She'll have a fine time" the
woman said briskly. Deserves it,
too! Couple months trailing-never
think she could-see her prettied
up. Didn't find your man? Carous-
ing, likely! I'd be careful, / was
you. Awful town. Some would cut
your throat for dollar. You're all
right when you're with your herd"
''Well, thanks for the advice, any,
way. Thanks for being so kind to
Janet, too. I'll get that war bag
from the ROOM"
He went upstairs, and Mrs. K1eiss,
looking sharply, quickly, from point
to point of her premises, saw the
two at the dining-room door.
who's this boy, Wil-nam?" she
asked Caramba.
''This is Con Cameron, Meroba,"
Caramba said hesitantly. 81 told you
about him.
''I'm glad to meet you, Con-" Mrs.
Keiss cut in. 81 hope you're not
spreeingI Silly to let those crooks
skin you. I told Wil-iam-leave your
money with memo temptation,
then. If you want to do the same,
I'll put it in my safe"
''Why, thanks. But I'm not stay
ing long in Wild Horse. I did sort
of want to stay for-wen the
ceremonies. But"
''Nice to have you. That will be
Wednesday night, though"
"Oh!" Con cried, looking at Ca
ramba. ST thought William would
rush you off tonight-tomorrow at
latest-Well, know you're both GO
ing to be absolutely happy and
congratulate you, William!"
In the dining room, not so crowd
ed at this second table, Con sat care
fully across from Caramba and
shook with quiet amusement. Ca
ramba scowled at him.
''Well, really was thinking about
doing it, all the time" he said ir-
ritab1y. Maybe not right off, but
Anyhow, she's a fine woman. We're
going to build onto the corrals and
do a livery business. I'll handle
that end. Beats punching cows
''Of course it does!" Con assured
him. "And she is a nice woman.
Did you see the girl with that fellow
Nevil Lowe? His wife, I reckon ii
was. Pretty as red wagon"
"Meroba had her in charge. ]
didn't see her. She come up with
the herd and now she's gone of
visiting. What you aiming to do,
tonight?"