The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-06-11
CHAPTER XIV


tina. The place was almost desert
ed. Two or three such games as
that of the constable looked to be of
the all-night variety.
Con went back to straddle chair
opposite Janton, and when hand
was finished, the lanky constable
looked curiously at him.
Don't tell me you already quit
the Busted WHEEL"
mo. Not yet. I was sent in to
bring the doctor and-to put muir
der case in somebody's lap. Yours,
maybe"
That's the sheriff's bailiwick, |"
Janton said drawlingly. Hell on
murders, Nevil Lowe isl
Somebody's always getting killed
in the territory" one of the players
drawled. "But, go ahead! Who was
it?"
''He not only got murdered in a
pretty Sinking, bushwhacking way,
but his wife and little boy got
shot
"Gracey!" Janton said quickly, al
most mechanically.
"Ohl You already knew about it,
did your"
''Uh-uh. Just knowed damn well
it was bound to come. Well, nothing
] can do, ~
could you be talked into arrest
ing Gracey's murderer if you found
him RIGHT in town7o
''Where is he, here in town."
''He was heading this way, the
last time I saw him. But didn't
see it done. I couldn't swear to a
thing"
BEST not to talk much if you
can't swear to things" that cowboy
next to Janton advised him sagely
E'Whose deal?"
The players laughed. Con SHOOK
his head, sighed, and got lazily tc
his feet.
ST believe I'll get drink and cal
it a day"
He ate breakfast in Carmelita's
among other early risers, cowboy:
and freighters and prospectors anc
those men of Onopa who had store!
or other businesses to open. Jantor
came m, alone. When he saw Coz
at a vacant table, he slouched ovei
to sit down and grin.
ST don't want you should think
don't give boot about murders,
he said genially, "just because
never got worked up about Gracey
Us that's been around here loni
time, naturally, we know things yol
don't. Now, Gracey, he was al
ways just begging for killing.
He drank coffee noisily, squirting
shaking his head.
"You know-nothing PERSONAL! bu
some folks might say you comm
in with this tale about Monk Irb
numbering Gracey was all part of
scheme to put Monk out of the way
Because Monk and Slash was awfU
good friends and Monks a danger
Gus man, any way you take him."
''No. No, you're wrong abou
that" Con disagreed placidly. "Ir
not a bit more afraid of Monk tina
I am of-of you, Janton, and yo
need your two barrels of buck t
make me nervous. Well, I've &C
to take the doctor out and report I
Topeka Tension about what you sal
and did"
The constable moved uneasily, bu
said nothing. Con paid for his breal
fast and went out. He walked SLOW
Nv toward the doctors house, pu:
zIing Janton's manner.
He met the doctor, hurrying alon
the street with his bag.
"Be an hour or two before II
ready" the gray little man pantet
"Been up since four"
ST think" Con told himself wit
some pleasure, ''that now. I've g
time to look around for Mr.. n
Irby. And if he should want to r
member me, goodness forbid that
put anything at all in his way!"
But nowhere in Onopa could
find Monk Irby He asked no que
lions, merely looked.
In the big cantina he found tn;
nervous bartender who had serve
him and Caramba. Con went f;
down the bar and stood by himsel
When the. bartender brought hi
bottle and glass, he stopped ar
hooked at the labeled array of iqu,
in the back bar, as if discussing
ssYou and that redhead partn,
sure played hell in High z Wi
them lady-wranglers of Gloomy's
he said in a low voice. "Ths
bulged into town a-licking their sor
like a bunch of scalded hounds. N
X body was killed, but some was sh