The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-12-03

OlQ lSdLIleT tTuIlh, SCIdUpiSu III @aS
corner, got a couple of loose boards
up and after some further scrab-
bling came up, red-faced with a
small iron lock-box in his dusty
hands. The box was eighteen inches
long, about six inches in the other
dimensions, and was provided with
two locks, each set about six inches
from the end.
81 think it was that box of mine
put the whole idea into my head"
Early Bill said. Having two locks
like, notice? Look at 'em good,
Doc?"
"What about 'em," demanded Doc
Joe. They're just two locks"
"By the way" said Early Bill,
when you boys go out, send Cal
Roundtree to me. Tell him to bring
Gaucho. I've got me great bunch!
It's my ace in the hole!'
you're crazy like boot owl"
snorted the Judge. doc just asked
you a question: What's this about
two locks?"
Look at 'em good!"
81 am looking-They're different,
that what you mean?"
"Takes two different keys to open
'em!" said a triumphant Bill Cole.
To two old porch-sitters in front
of the Bald Eagle Hotel came
young man on horseback. The two,
watching everything that went on,
smoking their after supper stogies,
took stock of him when he first rode
into town down at the far end of the
street. He rode straight to the no.
tel, dismounted and approached. He
was young and lean and brown and
tall. In the saddle he had been
loosely graceful; one felt that for
all that seeming carelessness in his
way of riding, that if his horse had
of a sudden sought to leap out from
under him he would still have been
sitting there in the saddle, confident
and vaguely arrogant. Here where
men dressed as they pleased, this
young man struck a note. From
f1ashy, high-heeled boots to the silk
bandana, bright red, around his
brown throat and on up to his forty
dollar hat, he displayed touch OF
elegance. A handsome young dark
devil, too, when they saw his face
"Howdy, gents" he greeted them,
and sat on the porch, holding his
horses reins. He removed his hat
and ran his fingers through his hail
that was inclined toward length, rich
| dorLpeSc and cI1rliOeSS
Civilly they returned his greeting
"Howdy," they said.
"I'm a stranger here" he tolc
them. "You look like you belonged
here. Maybe you can tell me the
way to Bill Coles ranch?"
They directed him, telling him i
was couple of hours ride, indicat
ing the short cuts to take on horse
back. He said, Thanks" rolled ;
cigarette, smoked half of it, tosset
the butt into the dust and stood UP.
"Only," said Doc Joe, II don
know as they're wide open for com
p'ny right now. Bill Coles sick"
"Sick? Say-What's wrong? Moth
ing bad, is it,"
"He amt feeling any too good,
- said Doc Joe.
The young man eyed him in a per
etrating sort of way
= "You might be the doctor?" h
;; judged. And Doc Joe nodded. 'Wel
o all the more reason / should rid
l. along. You see I'm his nephew
d My names Rance Waldron."
h Waldron tarried moment a
II though thinking some word might b
d added. When none was forthcomin
y he swung up into the saddle agar
lie lifting easily and somehow graceful
"a ly, man full of strength and yout
and vitality, and rode away.
n They watched him out of sight.
" "Hmf," said the Judge then.
* 'eHe had a hat" unused Doc Jo
to "Yep. Wasn't any hole in
I'd though"
to 'Nope. Wasn't even new ha
either"
It. "Not ight-colored, either. Black
"Too bad"
Doc Joe rolled his stogie and Il
or Judge rolled his cud. They didr
look at each other, just sat the,
o. and drew their eyelids down like tv
:" old roosters. After while,
Sc Funny him showing up rig
1T now" remarked the Judge. STU
'ly after that damn old buzzard ge
vii ready to cash in his chips. Kind
wv funny"
Iii ''What's funny about it?''
* "Lots of things. Kind of funny,
ce been thinking all this while, abe
,ly those two damn fool wills. If they
w. any good, if either one of them
any good, then Mr.. Rance Waldr
BILL is out in the cold. If those two wi
ng cut each others threats, he com
ZEE in for the gravy, being next of kin
ae- "And you haven't made up yo
ck mind yet about the validness
ct those wills?"
lev "How can tell? / never heard
he such tomfoolery. If when the he
sh. show up they don't look out, VIII
ge, they're pulling both ways at or
ow this young teller will slip in
Iol- tween and walk away with the b.
on, die. No, / don't know any mc
ali about that part of it than you KIN
zen how soon old Bill is going to kick
I warned him; was all I could
hit. And you warned him to keep in b.
T." How much good did any warm
we ever do that old horsethief?"
orn wound up with snort, and 81
of shrewdly over the railing into
igh road.
90 France Waldron, huh?" brooe
the Doc Joe. 'Do you know, Jud
lis. that old fool Bill Cole has sor
ng. times struck me as a pretty
nth Judge of folks. This young Waldr
ry- l don't cotton to him much. I dc