The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-05-28

UIIIIn AA1S StnIS1AS0 S1OS I"Ai5Co pam
fully. He sat up and faced Caram-
ba, who was examining his own
burns and yawning. They went out
to a long trough behind the bunk
house and Con washed his side and
rebandaged the long, shallow cash.
Now, if somebody'n bring on
about half a cow" he said, "Tn
be ready to take care of it." They
found the long clubhouse table set.
Gale Goree sat at the head of it and
he grinned at them.
''Well, how's the young gladia-
tors? Plain hell, us missing out on a
squabble that was right on our step
stone"
They finished breakfast and as
they ate Goree set the cowboys to
jobs for the day. Con listened and
watched appreciatively. Goree mar
shaled his men like a general, with
quick, sure orders that showed how
he held every detail of the Broken
Wheel work in mind.
Con found that his ugly cash and
the veal across his right thigh hard
ly slowed him in the dusty confu-
sion of the round corral. On the
wise Pancho, he forefooted his first
colt and dragged it to the wrestlers.
Goree watched down his nose, lids
sagging, apparently half-asleep
where he leaned against the logs.
But when Con had roped his fifth,
surer and faster with the practice,
the lanky Texan nodded slightly and
went off to other affairs.
As Con went after his sixth colt,
he saw the heads of Topeka Teni-
son and Janet above the corral top.
| He grinned family at sight of them.
There were many things about the
business of a working ranch which
he had yet to learn, mostly dull,
practical details connected with the
business of proftably growing steaks
and roasts on the hoof. Goree knew
these things; Tension, of course,
knew even more, or knew the bust
ness more completely. But the spec
tacular part of cowboys work, the
| riding and roping, Con could do more
expertly than most range-bred cow.
boys. For around the Stockyards he
had done more roping, ridden more
dangerous horses, than the average
working cowboy. So he Topped the
colt deity and hummed to himself
He was anxious to show his ability
because of the Broken Wheels name
for hard efficiency. If Perch were
something unusual with rope anc
he could match him, that would be
a good start as Wheeler. Too, i
might make Goree and Tension less
critical of what he lacked in genera
knowledge of range business. So he
ignored twinges of pain from hi:
side and concentrated on making ev
cry catch perfect.
AS the morning wore on, thu
branding crew forgot to look crit
cally at his work. Their faces grew
strained and tired. Con knew that h
had never done better roping. A
last, the sixty-fourth colt was wear
ing the odd Broken Wheel brand ant
Con by way of bravado spun out ;
county loop" that enclosed him
crooked a leg around his saddle
horn, and put on his most respect
full expression for Goree.
eff Perch-or somebody-will jus
show me a few of the fine point
about roping," he said, 'Il try Il
earn my way"
ST reckon you done all right,
Goree admitted.
"AIl right" one of the brander
grunted. Hell! You never run TIL
iron on colts that fast on the Vince
since it had an axle! Perch neve
seen the day he could spin the twin
with this boy, Gale. He had us yell
ing calf ropel' time or two"
Hell maybe make hand, yet,
Goree said, grinning. ''This is jus
short-grass country, you know. Yo1
boys better eat. We never stoppe,
you, account it's the first good morn
ing's work any of you done in
month of Sundays. Then I want you
Skeet, to take Twenty and Caramb
over to Red Mesa. Johnny Dutch
by hisself. That'n be the last horse
you bring in"
He turned away, then turned back
Keep your eyes peeled. That nc
account Helligo Canyon outfit Nigh
, Just accidental bulge over towar
the Mesa. With four of you, 20
ought to do. But-take aplent
| shells!"
(TO BE CONTINUED