The Ely miner., 1943-02-25

child, very trustful, innocent and ir-
resistible, won't you keep this for
me? And won't you see that !
am not cheated out of my rights?
You know that Mr.. Early Bill Cole
wanted me to have everything that
was his, don't you? You will protect
me, won't you, Doc Joe?"
Miss Ann Lee" he said sternly,
''I do know that old Early Bill want
ed you to have everything that he
has willed to you here. I Witnessed
his signature; talked alone with
him spell; he gave you the ranch
and a lot of other truck, and by the
jumping jimminy you're going to
have it,"
The Judge spoke to Cole Cody,
the while returning Doc Joe's glare.
Don't you worry about what this
old galoot says, Kid Cody" he said.
''He knows less about law than I
know about China. I might say he
knows almost as little about it as
he does about his own trade as a
medicine man, but maybe that's 60
ing too far"
This made Aunt Jenifer, today in
one of her merriest moods, start
laughing, and her laughter drew the
attention of both Doc Joe and the
Judge, and at once the battle look
was swept clear Of their old faces,
to be replaced by expressions hint
ing at condition not unlike that
Of very young men in a state of
calf love. A small sniff came from
little Ann Lee; it seemed very silly
to her for men as old as they to
cast calves eyes at spinster of
the antiquity of Aunt Jenny.
Cody again mentioned Waldron
and Cough; the two old fellows
knew good deal of Cough, nothing
to his benefit, and vowed to get
busy learning a lot more of his init
macy with Waldron, and what lay
behind that power, gone now, which
Waldrun had held over him. Both,
too, knew something of Porfirio;
having dwelt these many years in
Bald Eagle, being, as they were,
veritable aces of porch-sitters, they
knew a good deal about every man
within fifty miles of their gossipy
little town. They agreed for once
on this particular day in declaring
that If Porfirio Lopez had set out
to run a man down, or a hat, in or
der to come at his man, Porfrio
would never swerve from his pur-
pose until he achieved success, or
died.
There is one other matter which
we merely touched on yesterday"
said the Judge, that we might as
well nail down right now. No mat
ter which way the cat jumped you
two young folks, no matter what
happens to these two wills, have a
lot of cash money in the bank, and
it's in my bank, and it's deposited
there subject to your orders"
He reached into his pocket and
drew out small check book and
tossed it into Cole Cody's hands.
Those listening to him, all but Doc
Joe, watched and waited for the
other check book. 1t appeared there
wasn't any.
So in the end Doc Joe explained.
Miss Ann Lee" he said, and
sounded apologetic, "this whole set
up is mess. The money is there
In the bank, if the Judge hasn't stole
1t. Fifty thousand, maybe, maybe
a hundred thousand or a whale of a
lot more. Fact is, I'm no banker
and the Judge here claims to be.
and for some fool reason, Early Bill
trusted him. But here's the Joker.
like there is in every brand new
deck: The account is in the Joint
names Of you and this here Cody.
In short, if either of you wants to
draw cent or thousand dollars
or anything, you both got to sign
the same check! That was so or
dered by the late Mr.. William Cole,
known by some as Early Bill, by
others as Old King Cole himself.
You two have just simply got to
get together"
Of course Cole Cody and Ann Lee
had to look at each other then. and
OF course that taunting, gleeful grin
OF Cody's came flashing back-and
little Ann flushed up and bit her lip.
Il am going to draw out a thou
sand dollars today! A whole thou
sandl Oh, Aunt Jenny, think of the
things we are going to do! We can
spend thousand dollars every day,
if we want to! Mr.. Cody, I haven't
the slightest doubt, will be wanting
some money! So he will sign with
me; that's clear enough"
why, now!" exclaimed Cody. and
sounded friendly and hearty. ITS
an idea! As matter of fact l could
do with little money myself. Here;
III write the check right now, and
well give it to the Judge to cash
and split two ways for US. Where's
pen and ink?"
"I'H show you," said Aunt Jenifer.
and Cody followed her into the house.
They were not long gone.
Cody had written and signed the
check; he handed it with the pen
and ink bottle to Ann for her sig
nature below his.
She started to sign, then stifened
her small figure, and her lips were
compressed and her eyes blazing.
He had written in the amount:
Twenty Dollars.
ST said thousandl" she said.
"Shucks, said the good humored
Bill Cole Cody. Twenty bucks is
lot of money. You take ten, I
take ten-and there you are"
She crumpled the check and threw
il at him.
When sometime you want to
draw out some money, Mr.. Cody"
she told him, SAY a considerable