The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-04-16
CHAPTER VII

Marcos, Dud Paramore called {
halt. He sent Gonzales ahead Il
scout the village and, while they
waited, he talked to Con about the
Raniers as he had been talking al
the cabin. Apparently, his inform
ers in Tivan knew all about officia
suspicion that Con Cameron and Co
manche Linn were the same.
SCOT no idee, huh, about what
was on them Raniers' mind?" he
asked for the tenth time. Cam
figure which way they'd head after
they downed Welsh?"
"Nary idea," Con answered, Lit.
tie YEARLY. "To hear 'em talk, you'd
think nobody in the Territory
stacked up ankle-high to short
snake. They are the hefty busca.
deros, to hear 'em tell it. You and
Ellis-just country boys"
The last he put in artfully, but
maliciously. Dud's vanity was plain
to be seen and it amused Con to
prod him.
Gonzales came back at the gal
lop, a half-hour later. No officers
were known to be around San Mar
cos, but Quill Hogan lay in one of
the houses, terribly beaten by a
stranger.
"Huh?" bud cried incredulously.
"Quill was whipped? Who's this
done it,"
Gonzales shrugged and shook his
head. He had seen the man, big
swaggerer, cock of the walk in the
saloon. Turk was the name he went
by. He had been in San Marcos
when Quill Hogan rode in. Quill
had picked a row and Turk had
drawn his gun. But instead of kill
ing Quill, Turk had merely pistol
whipped him up and down the pla-
zita, then knocked him senseless.
"Come on!" bud yelled to his fol-
lowers.
He hooked his horse into rocket
ing gallop and the others jumped
their mounts after him. Into San
Marcos they charged, to slide to a
dust-wreathed halt before a long
adobe. bud was out of the saddle
before his horse came down upon
four feet, and darted through the
door. Big Wager numbered after
him with Gonzales catlike at his
heels. Catfish Coyle and Kinky Cd
ON swung down more deliberately
and Jeff and Con were last. So
when they stepped into the long,
dusky room, the others were al
ready at the bar.
bud stood beside a dark, beard
stubbled man who reminded Con of
a gorilla, for thickness of body and
length of arms. The Mexicans drink
ing at the pine counter gave bud
and this one room, and watched mar
rowly. But bud only pushed bot
tie to Turk.
Within twenty minutes the two had
five drinks. Then bud moved the
bottle Hospitality and when Turk S
eyes went to it, Dud's right hand
flashed to the white bone handle of
Turks Colt. He whipped it out,
stepped quickly back and tossed it
from right hand to left in legerde-
main almost too fast for the eye to
follow. Then, with high, shrill laugh,
he stepped in again and replaced it
in Turks holster.
stake your drink, fellow!" he
drawled. "You-need it,"
He spat deliberately upon Turks
boots and turned his back. Turks
arm jerked. He drew fast and bud
turned back deliberately. Con
scowled.
Then, instead of the roar he wait
ed stiff1y for, there was only a hol-
low click! and another as Turk re-
cooked the Colt. It was Dud's pis-
toll that beloved as it snapped from
the holster and tipped up. Three
bullets, in all, bud drove into the
others body. He leaned to knock
the Colt from Turks hand and slid
back, head on one side, watching.
Turk leaned heavily upon the bar,
left hand upon the bloody front of
his shirt. Then he crumpled and
began to sag to the floor. bud
laughed ShrlIly.
"That's what always happens to
folks that come a-hunting bud Par
amore! Hey, Nicolas! Take care of
this beef. We have got some dane
ing to do, us Paramores!"
In another big house the dance
was going when the Paramores
came in. There were more women
than men and eight or nine heavily
powdered, overdressed girls looked
expectantly at the newcomers and
giggled.
bud yelled shrilly. Big wager and
Catfish and Kinky and jeff Joined
the. wolfish chorus. They swept
down, Con trailing, upon the girls.
Automatically, Con selected one who
seemed little younger, less per-
fumed and powdered. He put out
his hands to her and she smiled
sidelong up at him. Then Gonzales