The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-07-02

something that l, Con Cameron,
wanted to do or had to do because
it was the right thing, the Territory
has said: "He did it easy-of
course-because he's that gunslick
and killer, Comanche Linn!" I'm
damn tired of it. Gonzales was the
first man l ever killed-and that was
simon-pure accident!"
He lowered at both of them. Mel
Their said anything.
81 do think I'm a damn sight bet
ter man than this Comanche was!"
he burst out. From what l heard,
he was like the Raniers, and bud
Paramore: Kill you any old way.
Now, Martina! You rammed your
nose into me at the wrong time. I'm
going to tie you up long enough to
keep you from under my feet. Step,
l want to talk to you, straight and
hard. Topeka and Gale"
81 was listening. I been doing
some thinking, too. I'm in a bog.
Topeka's going to get hisself rubbed
out if he rams into Helligo with
Gloomy's bunch shooting down. And
Il can't have that. They amt got
a chance, except help. If you. and
me and MARITIME take cards in this,
it'll be Gloomy's bunch that amt
got a chance"
Step said presently, GA right,
Martina! You feel like being good
i'l' boy and believing that this kid
never was Comanche Linn except
by mistake and in the Territory"
"You believe him, l believe him!
l never could quite put it straight
in my head, the way he looks and
acts, and the tales about Comanche
Linn"
"Bueno! There's trail we found,
forty-some year back, down into the
valley. Helligo's back door. We
can make it down, with a li'' luck.
Now, hand MARITIME back his hard
ware store. Let's get our horses.
You better take a Wheel caballo,
MARITIME, in place of your tired one.
Twenty-Con-amble to the bunk
house and roust out them Sunday
| punchers. We want shells. Your
guns IA, like ours, Martinez"
pistol is. But l pack a 1880
rifle; no carbine."
"Come on, then! Well saddle up,
while Con hunts AIS"
Con lodged with his arms full
through the door and trotted toward
the corral. When almost there, he
stopped short. For slim figure ir
some sort of dark robe came from
the shadows toward him.
"Con!" she gasped. "You-They
they mustn't I've heard Nevi
say that nobody can get into Helligc
Canyon against the fire of a hand
full of men. You'll all be killed
without a chance!"
"We've got a notion. Can't tel
you what it is. But it may just til
things over to the wagons side
We're the ones to do the tipping, i
it can be done. Now, we're in {;
| rush
She said something under he,
breath, but he hurried past and wen
on to where Step and MARITIME wait
ed, with Pancho and two othel
horses saddled.
"Buen viajei" Janet called shaki
ly, as they rode off. "Hasta la visit;
-Conl"
Step led the way out across thu
east range at the hard trot, a jolt
ing gait that did not encourage talk
They rode steadily until daylight
4 LoJ%Al hriaaxy 70 -
the steak and biscuits that Step ha,
foraged, smoke and relax.
The going was rougher and tn
climbing steady, in afternoon. Tn
sun was warm, but as it slid west
ward the air grew chill under tn
trees. They made fireless cam
and finished the food. Step had then
. in the saddle before dawn. But the
rode only a few miles, then un
, saddled and hobbled the horses. Ste
went off in the gray light and wa
gone for half-hour. When he cam
back, he was like another man. TIL
. faded eyes shone like narrow bits {
glass and his teeth showed snarline
ly.
/ "Grab your ropes! Glad you &c
, that long rawhide, MARITIME. Mine
r another like it. Come on! Can
, hear from down here, but when 70
{ hit the rim up yonder-only plac
. you can hit it!-you can make OF
4 the shooting. Begun while / wa
) listening. Wagons must've rolled u
= and opened the ball."
; (TO BE CONTINUED