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

King Cole Ranch almost as soon |
as the young Mexican. They found
four of the ranch hands hanging |
around the house, scraping dirt with |
the toes of their lop-sided boots, look
ing as though they didn't mean to |
look worried. At the sound of speed
ing hoofs and wheels they jerked up
their heads, and one man came out
of the house, small, mahogany
brown man who looked as hard as
nails and was harder than he looked,
Early Bills foreman, Cal Round
tree.
''Howdy, gents" he said, and
sounded surly as though he resented
their coming. "Come on in"
They went in and found old Early
Bill sitting in his big chair. He
looked more dead than alive.
"You darned old fool" snorted
Doc Joe. He put his bag down, took
off his coat and rolled up his sleeves.
''What did you shoot yourself for?
Or, far as that goes, why the hell
didn't you do it long ago? Think
like to 60 skallyhooting all over the
country for the likes of your"
''Howdy-Judge," said the old
man, by way of most beautifully ig-
noring Doc Joe and all his words.
give got to get you onto a bed,
Bill" said Doc Joe. II can't get
at you right, this way, sitting on a
chair"
81 amt going to bed. Most likely,
working me over, you're going to
kill me anyhow, and if I've got to
get murdered I'd like it better sit
ting up"
''If the old buzzard won't go to
bed, Judge, being that superstitious
and scared of dying because of the
devil waiting to grab him." said
Doc Joe, "lend me hand to heave
his old carcass up on this here ta-
BILE. Now, Bill, you come off your
high horse and do as l say or I'll
bat your brains out"
eff I had any brains, you pill
roller" grumbled Early Bill, "do
you think I'd let you put your muir
dering hands on me?"
The two helped him to stand and,
with what small aid he could give
them, got him stretched out on top
of the table. Doc Joe's skilful hands,
whether or not murderous, swiftly
denuded him from neck to belly
band and removed the make-shift
bandage. Then for a time the ply
sician-and there was not more
skilled within riding range of Bald
Eagle-kept his tongue in his mouth
and gave himself shrewdly to his
work.
The Judge stood by, watching in
a detached sort of way as though
willing enough to stick around in
case a hand were needed, but mildly
bored. The men outside stood look.
ing in at the open door; only Ca
Roundtree came in; he didn't know
that he was walking on tip toes.
Sometime later when Early Bill
Cole returned to misty sort of con
seriousness he made out that he was
in his bed, undressed, bound about
with what he judged to be a couple
of miles of bandage, and stuffed into
one of his long-tailed night gowns
At the moment somehow he didn'
care.
He had stirred very slightly anc
on the instant the two old cronies o
his popped into his room.
''Wen?" he demanded as sharpl.
as he could manage.
"You sure bled like a stucl
hawg," Doc Joe told him. 'Wh
shot you, Bill?''
ST wouldn't know, Doc; that's tn
hell of it. Say! If you boys happe
to see Teller wearing lght-col
ored Stetson with hole in ito
wearing no hat a-tall-or one bran
new out of the store-But let's tax
up business before pleasure, as tn
teller says. Got my come-uppanc
for certain this trip, huh, Doc?"
'I sort of reckon, Bill" he sait
pulling at his lower lip, "that
won't be alfred long now befor
this is better, cleaner world-an
me and the Judge will be winnin
a couple of BETS
''Hmf!" said Early Bill. Then tn;
crooked and somehow endearing Of
grin of his came back, just gho
VI WIdL IL USCO w bS Out oIAIl IiiCA
like a flicker of winter sunligh
"'Might be you lose out yet, you tv
scums of creation. Might be vol
horses runs away and breaks yol
damn necks before check out!"
Nobody said anything for a lit
while. Early Bill was resting, D.
Joe stepped out to bring him som
thing to swallow, mostly hot whisk
and the Judge appeared to be taki1
matters judicially under advis
ment. They lifted Early Bill al
got his drink down him. Then TIT
had one apiece.
The draft brought the sick al
wounded man a flush of strengt
He spoke more clearly.
squat, you boys, and listen. M
I'll do the talking"
They dragged up chairs.
''First, Doc, let's know where ,
stand. l need a little time and
mite of stren'th. I'm not going
pop off in a hurry like canc
blown out, am 1? feel pretty 60
after that drink"
you're a tough old bird, Bill
said Doc Joe thoughtfully eff y
hadn't been on the skids anyho
this thing wouldn't have done you
It's just hurrying things along SON
No, there's no rush. Say the VIC
and I can keep boosting you along
Oh, how do know? Anyhow, sht
the works and take your time"
"Fair enough and gracias, ar
CO." said Early Bill. Here we g
1t was a fairly long, one-sid
talk, with Bill Cole now and tt
fornnd to silence and rest and