The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-03-26

chained like wild animals at the
whim of local authorities, at the
mercy of riffraff!
"You calling me rlffraff?" the
deputy sheriff demanded.
"Of course not, Bain!" Hearn
cried instantly. 81 mean this So
called Vigilance Committee. Not one
of them has the nerve to meet FAINT
face-to-face. But under cover Of
darkness, enough of them might get
together to"
There was more argument before
the three went upstreet together.
Down the line of Tivan's buildings,
presently Con met ford, fattish
young man in all the glories of der
by hat, pomaded hair, cheap per-
fume, a reddish-brown suit with
wide yellow stripes. The young man
seemed to like the attention Con
gave him. He paused, Strengthened
a lapel, took the cigar from his
mouth and nodded.
Stranger in town." he inquired.
81 can usually spot a newcomer.
Know everybody around. Never for
get a face. My business makes it
important to remember faces-and
judge 'em. I'm cashier of the bank.
Yonder."
Out of a store behind the cashier
two girls came bearing packages.
One was yellow-haired, pretty. The
other was Janet Lowe.
The cashier turned with sound of
their voices. He called both by
name. The yellow-haired girl, it
seemed, was Marian" They called
him Cicero and looked curiously at
Con, then returned to their talking.
Con turned his head slightly, to
look past the girls at the red-faced
Balm, who was coming toward them.
Balm passed Janet and Marian with
vaguest grunt and came on to stop
before Con. Cicero began to talk,
but the deputy stopped him with i'm
patient jerk of the chin, without look
ing at him. Con grinned family.
$50 you're packing a hideout in
town, huh?" Balm grunted.
"Hideout?" Con returned, shak-
ing his head. "Uh-uh! Not even a
water pistol, Mr.. Balm. My hard
wares on my horse, yonder."
"Yeh, I know about that one in
the alforja," Balm said calmly.
Come along. Salado wants the
bunch of you for that Sinking bunch
of killings there and the robbery"
'Listen!" Con began anxiously. 81
want to talk to Sheriff Lowe. I've
been looking for him. I met the
bunch at Fronteras. They were
strangers to me"
Left-handed, for his right hand
was hooked in the belt conveniently
near his Colt, Balm caught Cons
right arm and jerked. Con twisted
free and stepped backward.
"Keep your hands off! You don't
have to drag me anywhere. told
you, I want to see Lowe. can tell
him some interesting things. And
when I finish talking, I think he'll
tell you that I'm no buscadero-"
Balm shot out his big left hand
again and clamped it upon Con- s
arm. When Con jerked angrily, the
deputy ignored the pistol at his side
and whipped up his gunhand to slap
Con savagely across the face.
''Shut upl" he snarled. 81 hate a
mouthy kid-and one that hangs out
with a bunch of killers like that"
Con forgot his good intentions, un-
der that smashing open-hand blow;
even forgot the pistol that Balm
wore. He struck three times so fast
that Balm could not guard against
the blows-with the edge of hard
hand upon Bain's left and right
arms, then with smashing fist to
the deputy's belly. The slow, un-
skilled deputy, for all his forty-odd
pounds advantage in weight, had no
chance against the cat-quick attack.
His knees buckled. He crashed for
ward under alternating hooks that
thudded against his big chin; lay
still.
Something was like a shadow
above Cons head. He slid side
ways and felt the very wind of Nevil
loves blow with pistol barrel. With
out thought, he pivoted back and
smashed terrific swing into the
taller mans face. Lowe dropped as
if poll-axed. Con stared almost daz-
edly, then, before he could straight
en-, something seemed to explode in
his skull. He heard a dull roar, saw
streaks Of flame, then blackness took
him.
(TO BE CONTINUEDj