The Ely miner., 1943-04-01
CHAPTER XIX

up, ran Tor the Otner, Dackeu OIi
and stood in a corner with both
weapons in her hands. The two men
stood up.
Bill Cody fought clean and fair,
feeling no need of anything beyond
his clubbing, strangling hands. Once
Waldron Strove to snatch up the
heavy fireside poker; once he caught
up solid oaken chair. These things
did him no good; Cody was too
lightning-fast for him, too recklessly
contemptuous of the threat of any
weapon on earth. And once Waldron
fell, going over backwards, and lay
there moment, and Bill Cody stood
patiently waiting for him to get up.
By now Waldron's face was bleed
ing pulp, his eyes mere bright, mall
evolent points of light sunk in ugly
folds of flesh.
He stirred but again lay still. It
was hard to make out his words
when he spoke.
"All right" he said. ST know
when I'm licked. I quit, Cody"
Cody shook his head. He was
thinking of the old Judge, of old
Early Bill, even of Tom Cough shot
Like dog. He said quietly,
mo, Waldron, you're not licked
yet. Stand up"
Waldron stood up. New rage red
dened the pin-points of his eyes,
new strength flowed into him and
perhaps new courage. He charged
like a bull
Bill Cody struck the one blow then
that was like coup de grace. It
took Rance Waldron on the point of
the chin; it seemed to lift him
inches from the floor. And this time
when he fell, whether taunted by
words or threatened with further
bodily punishment, he was beyond
rising.
Ann Lee thought him dead. So
did Aunt Jenifer. So, for that mat
ter, did Doc Joe.
In the kitchen, "Oh, Cole Cody!
Your poor dear face!" gulped little
Ann Lee. "Your poor eye!" and
tears began scattering like summer
rain.
Bill Cody caught her in his arms;
he forgot the unloveliness of his bat
tered face and crookedly leering
eye; he drew her tight and tighter
and kissed her. And it is of record
that Ann Lee returned his kiss ex-
actly the way it was received, a
fact to be sworn to if necessary
by Cal Roundtree who, just then
bursting into the room stood a mo-
ment transfxed on the threshold.
But they heard him and whirled
about; and Ann Lee turned scarlet
and Bill Cody's good eye glowed
more fiercely than it had just now
at the end of the battle with Rance
Waldron.
Look here, Roundtree-" Cody
began stiffiy.
Cal virtually brushed Ann Lee
aside, grasping Bill Cole Cody by
an arm, yanking him close, then
whispering into his ear.
''I bet Rance Waldron's here,
from the looks of you," was what
he said. "And, Cody"
mo secrets from Ann Lee" said
Cody, pulling away "Sure he's here.
And so is old Doc, and both Ann
and Aunt Jenifer know that, too."
Cal emitted a mild whoop and
came as close to the execution of
war dance as either of the amazed
onlookers had ever dreamed lay
within his possibilities.
keep Waldron from getting
away; lead me to old Doc Joel"
was what he had next to remark.
Rance Waldron was in a small
room with iron-grilled windows and
with a murderous looking Porfirio,
a gun in his belt and wicked look
ing knife in his hand, riding herd on
him. Doc Joe and Aunt Jenifer,
hearing voices, came into the kitch-
en-.
Keep all this dark from Waldron
until tomorrow" said Cal Round
tree. That's all I ask"
That's fair enough, CAL" nodded
old Doc Joe. "Only just what is it
that we're to keep dark"
after the fashion of buttoning it.
Then he shook his head. Finally he
said:
"Tell you at sun-up. Just keep
Rance Waldron alive and handy.
Night, folks"
Before sun-up all in the house
Irf %0I - II
len Rance Waldron, save Doc Joe
alone who as yet wanted Waldron to
know nothing about his presence,
about his still being above ground.
Yet Waldron, though battered and
angry, had certain malicious grin
in his eye. Over the coffee he said
with a dash of his old cock-sure
arrogance,
''My lawyers coming out this
morning. The sheriff will be with
1im or close behind. This place is
mine, is going to be proved mine,
and every darned one of you inter-
lopers is going to clear out, bag
and baggage"
Cal Roundtree came up from the
ounkhouse. He carried an open en-
yelope in his hand. He cleared his
throat, forgot all about saying good
morning, and announced a bit of
news that came pretty close to
knocking several people out of their
chairs,
"Me," said Cal, ''I just got let
:er last night. It's a letter from a
guy by name of Mr.. William Cole,
Known far and wide as Early Bill"
The first to gasp out word was
Rance Waldron, hastily on his feet.
''You fool! Early Bills dead and
ouriedl Are you crazy?"