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

A vide veranda shaded the front
of the rooming house. Topeka Teni-
son sat with the stiffness of gray
hawk halfway along it. Con slowed
his pace trif1e, so that Caramba
preceded him.
''Nfr. Tenison?" Caramba asked
respectfully. MY names Wear and
this Is Twenty Johnson. We make
out to be hands and if you got jobs
we'd IKE to have EN-"
Tension drew a foot up into the
seat ef the barrel chair and locked
his arms around his knee.
''Auy warrants close behind your"
he inquired drawlingly. He had
low vaice: very even. "Gets tire
some, having the sheriff jerk my
busters right out of the saddle"
Mary warrant any place! We
drifted into the Territory to kind of
Timber up our geography. Rode a
spell tog the 20 Bar on the Pecos.
Twenty, he took on with Los Ala
mos long enough to bust few for
Taylor. I was too rich to work
then"
Con had sat down upon the edge
of the veranda so that only his side
face was presented to Tension. Head
down, he began to roll cigarette.
When footsteps sounded inside the
house, he did not look up.
'Unc4e Peek!" Janet Lowe called
from the door. Ibid you hear about
that man Oxweld being killed? The
Fronteras killer"
Con stared incredulously at tobac-
CO and paper and drew a long, slow
breath. Then he went on making
the cigarette, but shifted position
little so that he could turn his back
upon the girl.
"Yeh. l heard about it. Slash
never was the wolf he let on to be.
Gale Goree told me, that Slash was
swelling around yesterday and he
kind of stuck pin in Slash's blister.
Gale didn't take Slash serious, so he
never killed him. But couple fool
cowboys misread him and one killed
him. Good radiance! How you fixed
with the store? Got everything?"
'T-I think So" she said. But
there was a tone which turned Con
carefully about, to meet her wide
eyed stare. ooh, yes! I think /
have just about the list"
$50 you don't think Slash was a
real wolf, huh?" a grim voice de-
manded. "And you think Gale Go
rec iS?"
It was the tall, slim Gloomy
Megeah, as neat as when Con had
seen him at the bar in Fronteras.
It Was plain that Tension knew Me-
eeath. He did not alter position, nor
did his expression change. But there
was a tension about him that Con
could see.
"Yeh-to both," he said fatty.
Anyway, Slash is dead"
'Slash was plenty fastl Danger
GUS as a rattler!" Megeath said to
Con. $50, when heard about you
killing him, come to take look
at you. l wondered if you was fast
er, OF jast luckier. There'll be some
that want to know. Slash left
friendst"
Tensions eyes shifted quickly to
Con. From the girl came a gasping
sound.
Deliberately, Con got to his feet
and stepped up on the veranda. Me.
geath watched him, then turned to
look directly at Janet Lowe.
''Why, do believe it's the sheriff S
sister," he cried. First chance
ever had, young lady, to take a real
mira at you. But if I had guessed
what pretty"
''Thafn dol" Tension cut in
whoever and whatever this young
lady is, it's not thing in the world
to you. Now, or any other time
You hear me? You better remem.
Der itl''
Megeath's thin mouth stretched
He nodded slightly.
''Now, amt that just too bad!" he
whispered-then laughed. ''Well, I'll
be seeing you-all. Specially, you
johnson"
He tArned away and seemed tt
forget them. At the edge of the
veranda he looked up and down
then stepped off and loafed toward
the center of Onopa.
That's plumb bad actor!" Ten
ison admitted. "Goes by Gloomy
Megesth. do'no' as l would pu
much past Megeath. But you won
likely see him again, honey. DOM
you wsrry."
Then he turned to Con and Ca
ramba.
lyon boys might as well start or
out. Yonder's the road. Just keeI
to it for ten mile, then you'll hit Z
right-hand trail with pile of rock.
to make the sign. Take that trail
and go straight on toward the hills.
"You don't think you might have
trouble with Megeath?" Carambs
asked hesitantly. "Of course, mt
and Twenty don't weigh awfu