The Ely miner., 1943-02-04
CHAPTER NJ


then, he knew what he was doing?
He wasn't delirious?"
mot Early Bill" vowed Cal
Roundtree. when he stood up,
aiming to die on his feet the same
way he had lived, his old head was
as clear as a bell. You could see it
in his eyes. He had pair of eyes
like an eagles"
Then how in blazes was it that
at one and the same time he gave
all he had to me-and gave the
same everything to Ann Lee? I've
seen both wills, man, and that's
how they read!"
Cal shook his head. He was hav-
ing him his fun, I reckon. Old Ear
ly Bill, come rain or shine, was al
ways a great hand for having him
his own fun in his own way" He
thought moment. Say! It might
be that this way he was making
sure that you and Miss Ann would
marry each other! Maybe that's the
way he wanted it,"
''Then you're wrong about him not
being crazy" snorted Cole Cody.
They sat silent little while, soak
ing IN the sunshine. Presently they
fell to talking of this and that as
men, strangers to each other and
thrown together, WILL and so it
chanced that the attempted stage
robbery OF the day before was men
toned. And so Cal Roundtree
learned that the attack had been
made against Bucktooth Jenkins, and
that Jenkins was now lying IN bed at
Bald Eagle, pretty well shot up.
Did they get the money Buck
tooth was carrying?" Cal Roundtree
asked anxiously.
They didn't get anything, unless
one of them got bullet in him. I
couldn't be sure, it was that dark.
We all wondered what Bucktooth
was carrying that they wanted"
He was carrying ten thousand
dollars in hard and folding money"
said Cal. 1T was money he had
gone to collect for Early Bill, and
he was bringing it home. I know
because Early Bill showed me the
letter Bucktooth had wrote him; the
letter said he had collected all right
but was staying over a couple Of
days to visit some relations Of his
at the old trading post down over
by Tilton; said he'd be along on
yesterdays stage, bringing the ten
thousand bucks with him. But how
the devil did anybody else find out
about it? Bucktooth amt a man to
CAB. Early Bill showed me the let
ter because when it come he was
near blind with pain, and he just
snapped at me like this, oh, he'll,
it amt anything if it's from that
fool Bucktooth. Just about whether
he did as told him or fell down on
it. Here, read it to me, CaI,' and
he stuck on to that, same as usual,
IF you can readn So I read it, and
left it lying on his table when he
chased me out to bring him a
drink"
You left it on the table, huh?
He probably left it on the table
What do you know about this Rance
Waldron hombre anyhow"
Nothing. Except don't like the
way he wears his face"
He could have found the letter
and acted on it.
about it being Waldron. bet it
was! He's been IN and out of Bald
Eagle a time or two, and from
what hear he amt got a two-bit
piece to his name. And wouldn't
put him above hog-stealing. But
where he'd find a side-kick IN
game like this, him being Johnny
come-lately hereabouts, I wouldn't
know"
Just who is Bucktooth Jenkins,
anyhow? How come that Early Bill
sent him on an errand such as
that?"
'Bucktooth has been old Bills
handy-man for years. He lived in
that little shack over yonder." Cal
pointed to one of the several small
adobes half hidden by the low droop-
ing branches Of live oak He's a
good man and game, and always
carried out orders the way he got
EN-. Later III be riding into town
to see how he's making out. If he
gets well he ought to be back here,
no matter who owns the place"
I'D sort of like to look the ranch
over, to see what it's like" said
Cody wistfully. But suppose, the
shape I'm in, a horse would shake
me plumb to pieces"
"I'Q hitch up the buckboaro, if you
say the word, Cody. A blackboard
can go most any place, you know"
It was while they were giving the
matter thought that a man came
riding to them from the country
road, ignoring the ranch house and
striking straight for the two on the
log. First Cole Cody recognized the
palomino, then the rider, and waved.
Here came little Porfrio Lopez
whom he had left last night IN town.
Porfrio's white teeth cleaned in
wide grin as he pulled his horse
up IN front of them.
Light down, Porfrio," invited
Cody, land make yourself at
home"
Porfirio swung down lightly, was
introduced to Cal Roundtree who
shook hands without getting I'D to do
so, an unnecessary effort anyhow,
seated himself beside his amigo Cole
Cody, and the three chatted. Por-
irio had come, it appeared, for
more than one reason: He wanted to
visit the grave of the poor old Senior
Beel Cole; he meant to pick some
wild flowers by the creek and place
them there with his own two hands.
Also, he had thought that he might
find his amigo Cole Cody here.
Third, his heavy black brows drawn
down Ike the shadow of a thunder
cloud, he wanted to poke his nose
into things here, to find out things