The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-05-21

heavy, but we might kind of back
you up"
"When I need help-or advice
I'll ask for it," Tension snapped.
"All right! All right! But hope
you don't live to see the day you
need it and don't have time to come
asking!"
They got their horses from the liv-
cry corral, had a final drink at lit
tie cantina where Mexican proprie-
tor and Mexican customers watched
so steadily that Con knew he was
recognized. When they rode past the
rooming house, Tension and Janet
were not on the veranda. But, some
how, Con felt more cheerful than
before. He stared ahead blankly
and whistled Buffalo Gals.
"She is prettyl" Caramba said
thoughtfully. Say! I thought you
said she keeps house for her broth
er. How-come she's down here?"
81 don't know. Surprised me to
see her step out there and call Teni-
son Uncle Peek and talk about buy
ing for him at the store. Well, Mrs.
Tension may be a friend of hers. Or
she may be a niece. Probably she
came visiting-I-wonder! Maybe
Nevils not so easy in mind about
her being on the MI while he sher-
ifs around. After Dud's crack at
the place probably he wouldn't.
They turned at the heap of boul-
ders and rode along the ranch road.
Ahead, the hills rose, low and
smoky, The sunlight of late after
noon was pale upon fiat and height.
| Caramba shifted in the saddle to
! look all around him.
| Ought to be ten-twelve miles to
the house. Be dark by the time we
hit there-good and dark. Say! how
come the girl never let on she knew
your"
Because I was with you. You
wouldn't expect nice girl to speak
to anybody siding a wild-eyed Text
can of your build. When she gets
me off to myself, she'll read me a
sermon about associating with bad
companions.
He swung off on the little hilltop
and stretched himself. Caramba dis
mounted and reached into his al
forja for the quart brought from On
opa. He sprawled comfortably to
make a cigarette and smoke. Con
sat beside him and played humble
peg with his heavy knife.
"You know, told you about that
gang at Fronteras," he said pres.
emily. "Well, this Gloomy Megeatt
was drinking at the bar within g
yard of me. I don't think he recog.
nized me today and made out that
he didn't. But made enough noise
around Fronteras for him to notice
me and remember me-"
"Does look funny. Looky!"
But Con had already seen the rid
er topping over ridge quarter
mile or so away, coming toward
them. Caramba stared calculatingly
at the man and shook his head.
The. rider came on toward the
hill and when he was within fifty
yards they saw that he rode with
hand on his pistol. He pulled in, E
thick, dark man with wide. fiat face
to look sullenly and arrogantly al
them.
"Wheelers?" he grunted. HELL
don't gawp so. amt aiming tt
eat you-maybe.
"That'n please your teeth" Ca
ramba said dryly. "Yeh. We're
Wheelers. So that makes it polite
for us, being on Wheel range, tt
ask where you're from. Even, which
way you're heading ;"
''I'm Monk Irby! Reckon yo,
heard that name. And I'm from
Helligo Canyon. And I'm heading
for Onopa to kill me couple pups!'
"Well, I've heard of Onopa, any
way" Con drawled solemnly.
Irby's smoky eyes shuttled suspi
ciously from one to the other. Gu
of a pocket of his old coat he drew
fiat flask, held it up to the Low
sun, uncorked it and drank gulping
ly until the half-pint Of liquor hac
disappeared. Then he tossed tn.
empty flask away and got heavily
out of the saddle.
"Gi' me cigarette" he ordered
them generally. 81 run out of to
bacco awhile ago."
"Le' mel" Caramba begged Coz
plaintively. "You know I'm tender
er in the gizzard than you are"
He held out tobacco and paper,
and when he had smoked for a mo