The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-05-14

The clean, comfortably unt1dy
kitchen and bedroom had no place
that would have hidden man. Wiley
gave them chairs in the bedroom, by
a table that held whisky and cigars
under a shaded reading-lamp.
When they sat with glasses and
cigars, Wiley shifted his lean length
in the old leather chair opposite.
81 think you two shape up as the
answers to a question:" he said
calmly, swirling the liquor in his
glass. Before we go any deeper
into our business discussions, let me
make it plain that who you really
may be, or what you may have done,
is nothing at all to me. I want
detective, but I'll take two, since
you boys seem to be siding each
other. Will you pass your words not
to mention anything I'm going to
say, without my permission, wheth-
er or not you go to work for me?"
"Why, I think we can do that"
Con said, after an inquiring glance
at Caramba. IT promised"
81 trot with you," Caramba
agreed. mo talk"
"Buenol I'm not only a justice,
but own half the Walking x. Some
times my partner and have said we
own half-thieves own the other half
and collect damn sight more in
come than we can. Well, most Of
the outfits in the Territory are in
our fix. Some months ago we or
ganized a private association. Any
way, there's more and more expen-
sive stealing going on than we've
had for a long time. And detec-
tive's job is more dangerous"
II want you to take on with the
Broken Wheel if Tension will hire
you"
"Well, them" Con said slowly, "as
I see the layout, you want us to
work for Tension in two ways-as
hands and as detectives. But he's
not to know that we're anything but
hands and we keep our eyes skinned
to see if the rustlers have got help
on the Broken Wheel. Suppose we
uncover something's"
you'll have to use your own judg-
ment."
''Well, it sounds all right to me-"
Con told him. tHow about you,
Caramba? Want to give the PROPOSE
ton whirl?"
Caramba shrugged. But his eyes
were twinkling.
"I'm a scary man, Judge" Ca
ramba said whimsically. "But if this
understanding, fire-breathing ter
ror of the prairies, here, he'll gar
antee to protect me, I'm your Cos
ling. Well hang and rattle for you
If the pays right"
1.-TWO hundred a month. You can
split it to suit yourselves. And
here's something for each of
He got up and crossed to bat
tered desk, fumbled in drawer and
turned, holding up two dull brazen
disks.
English pennies. I'll scratch my
initials on each one: WV. A word
goes with them: Eye. Any member
of our association will recognize the
penny, the initials, and the word, as
identifying a detective. Suppose a
detective working for us joined a
sticky looping gang and was caught
with the rustlers. He'd say he was
just passer-by. Search mel" he'd
yell. Our member in the necktie
party would do that, very promptly.
Sight of the penny would be almost
enough to tell him the truth. The
word would make him sure. So he
would arrange for our man to get
off, without ever exposing himself
if possible"
''Does Nevil Lowe belong to the
association" Con asked.
ooh, yes! In fact, he's an original
member. Don't worry at all about
him!"
They drank little, played little
stud poker, and turned in at mid
night in the livery corral near their
horses, without excitement.
They ate at Carmelita's in the
early morning and drifted about
Onopa, returning to the cantina to
sit talking to loafers like themselves.
Near midday Wiley appeared and
looked at them els at the merest &C.
quaintances.
Didn't you men say you're job
hunting? Well, Topeka Tension Of
the Broken Wheel is down at the
rooming house. don't know but ne
might have place for you"
RIO BE CONTINUED