The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-04-02


FAINT and the others of his opinions.
Jeff's shrewd eyes were on him
steadily.
Don't tell me you're the man
that shot Lincoln, tool" jeff said,
grinning.
He began to talk of bud Para
more and Con listened sullenly. By
Jeff's account, Paramore was gum
man and horse thief second to none
the Southwest had ever known.
''When are you going to ask Lowe
to let you go?" Con said sourly. "Or
do you want me to ask him?"
Instead of answering, jeff began
to whistle. He shook his head when
Con asked questions. The gloom of
the improvised Jail became dusk.
The door opened and Chunky the
deputy brought a Mexican waiter
who carried big tray. A wall lamp
was lighted in each room. From
the f1at-voiced OH came caustic re-
marks about restaurant meals
bought with stolen money.
When the waiter had gone, an eld-
erly Mexican woman brought food in
pots and pans for the other prisoners
in the large room. She did not serve
jeff and Con, He looked at the
deputy.
Sheriff says you two can eat in
his Kitchen" Chunky explained.
"Do'no' why!"
He saw the Mexican woman out,
then produced single pair of hand
cuffs. He locked Con and jeff wrist
to-wrist, then unlocked the heavy,
old fashioned gives which had
chained them to the log. The two
stood, stretched, twisted. They went
out ahead of Chunky's drawn pistol
and into a narrow hall, waited while
he locked the door behind them, then
descended a narrow flight of stairs.
At the back of this adobe building
was the dirt-foored kitchen, presided
over by the Mexican woman who
had carried food. But at table OPP
posite that on which two plates and
cups were set, Janet Lowe kneaded
dough. She looked up at the two
and Con kept his face blank, his eyes
trained to the side of her. jeff
seemed at ease.
eli, Janet!" he said cheerfully.
''Looks like pie crust. Save me
the middle, will you-with the liz
ring of pie that goes out to the
edges of the pan? I'm partial to
that part of pies. Carnacion! Did
you"-he slipped into accentless
Spanish as he grinned at the cook
make that stew of the marvellous
aroma with your own tiny, lily
hands?"
PICARD! Rascal" Carnacion
snapped. Compliments to grand
mother! 1 will not be fooled. Who
is this handsome boy? Someone has
made a mistake, or he would not be
in ell calabozo!"
''He is the boy who rode with
three robbers" Janet broke in, also
in Spanish. "My brother had tele-
gram about these men. MARITIME
Palafox met them, not knowing
more than that they seemed dam
gerous and came toward Tivan. So
he telegraphed. Then young Ber-
nardo Hernandez met them and
heard one admit that they were bus
caderos. He told his father, who
telegraphed. So when this boy rode
in, alone, he was taken"
Con understood only part of the
rapid-fire talk, but quite enough to
be uncomfortable. jeff looked curl
ously at him as they ate-cuffed
right and left hands on the table
between their plates-with the spoons
that were their only utensils.
Nevil Lowe came into the kitchen
with telegram. He looked coldly
at Con.
SCI wired Wild Horse about your
men, Upperman and Wear. 1t seems
that Upperman brought in a herd,
as you said. But he left right away.
Nobody knows exactly where to To-
cate him. AS for Vear-Mrs. Kleiss
at the Metropole says he's not there,
either, but she knows him for a
scoundrel and any friend of his is
probably the same.
Con stared frowningly. He was
oddly unmoved-except that loves
contemptuous expression, the eyes
of Janet upon him, reused an ugly
irritation.
"I-see," he drawled. "She had
Caramba roped, but he got away
before she tied him. So, he's a
scoundrel. Maybe so, but my mo-
ton is. he's lucky one. But she