The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-04-23

reacneQ through ana caught neT
wrists. The small noises she made
did not stop the talk in the kitchen.
On the ground, outside, she watched
him as child might have done, ex-
pectantly-truStfully!
"Quiet!" he warned her.
There was a kitchen window to
pass, before he could reach jeff s
horse. Someone would certainly be
facing that way. He moved down
the wall, dropped to hands and
knees and crawled under the line of
that sill. Erect again, he moved
toward the horse. It opened it's
eyes and stiffened. When he put
out a slow hand toward the trailing
reins, it moved back a step. He
edged closer. Another pace and he
would be past the corner and in
view of anyone looking through the
kitchen door. Again he reached for
the reins and the horse lifted foot.
He caught the reins and pulled.
The horse followed easily-even
when he got down to crawl beneath
the window. But inside the kitchen
bud said:
Saint! That damn caballo of
yours is a-walking off. Better catch
him. Wen be leaving quick"
Con stood and went faster toward
the girl. He drew his pistol and
faced the corner of the house while
he put down a hand to help Janet
mount. But Jeff's voice came laz-
lily:
"Ain't Saints horse. Mine. He
won't 60 nowheres."
In the saddle, color seemed to
come back to Janet's face. She
looked frowningly at Con.
"Come with me! No matter what
it is that you have to face, I don't
think that you're-what-You-Tn
make Nevl help you'll He's not so
sure Of himself since that awful
night when you and jeff got away
and-the others-Come with me!
Pleased"
Reckon not. Now, you walk on
off, slow. Get over that slope, then
give him the leather"
81 wish you'd leave that awful
Paramore!" she whispered, staring
down at him with lip caught between
her teeth. 81 know you're not their
kind. But-goodbyl"
She bent suddenly from the saddle
and her lips brushed his cheek. Then
she Strengthened and sent the horse
off at slow walk toward the gate
in the front fence.
Footsteps on the veranda sent Con
swiftly to that corner. But it was
jeff coming from the front door. His
mouth was tight and his eyes mar
row. He looked furtively behind
him, then at Con again. He beckoned
imperatively.
"Boyl You have got to take your
foot in your hand and light shuck!
bud and that big, mean, new fellow,
Dandy, they have had their heads
together. Dud says to Dandy, when
/ amt supposed to hear, that there's
one in the bunch he aims to get
shut Of. And it's your tail feathers he
aims to collectl Dandy says he
would as soon do it as not-today."
Because of-that?" Con asked
frowningly.
jeff stared in the indicated direc-
ton. Through gap in the trees
Janet showed, going over the ridge
that would hide her perfectly from
the house, once passed.
"You-you let her loosel" he
breathed. "And give her my horse!
Hell! You amt got five minutes.
Dud'n look into that bedroom. Then
he'll kill you! Man-Dud was plumb
crazy about her first time he ever
laid eyes on Janet. Herel I'm 60
ing back in and I'll stall bud all
can. You slide around and grab
Pancho and 60 on back to Catfish.
Tell him-oh, anything! Then you
ride like hell and don't you never
let bud catch up with you, no timeI
And-luck, kid! I never met a man
I liked betterI"
Con slapped hin. on the shoulder
and ran noiselessly around the
house, to drop and crawl beneath
the window and so get to Pancho
with the careless bearing of a man
weary of idling.
"I'm going back to the horses.
Dud," he called. ''Want Catfish to |
come down and eatf"
"Yeh. He nights WELL" bud an
swered. leaning so that he looked |
through the door, grinning.
(TO BE CONTINLEDJ