The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1943-02-18


her key into the lock, he was at her
door. BY the fraction of a second
she shot the bolt before his hand
touched the knob
Then she sped through Ann Lees
room and to the door that gave
upon the corridor, and as she heard
him coming there, too, she got that
door locked.
There was a heavy silence, then
Ann Lees sleepy voice asking, SIS
that you, Auntie? What are you do
ing?"
Then Rance Waldron's voice spoke
up, saying CURLY yet not over loud,
Miss Edwards, I think you had
better let me come in. Or, if you
like, you might step out here and
give me word of explanation.
Not tonight, Mr.. Waldron, thank
you" said Aunt Jenifer with cred
liable caluaness.
Ann Lee sat up in bed.
what is it?" she whispered.
what has happened?"
Again Rance WaIdron spoke, more
sternly this time.
Miss Edwards, I won't stand for
this sort Of thing. You come out
here and give me a good explanation
or III smash your door down and
come in"
Aunt Jenifer told her pat little lie
then.
81 still have Cal Roundtree's gun,
Mr.. Waldron," she said quietly.
'Stick your ugly mug in here and
III shoot it off,"
I'll bust your door down, ! tell
you" said WaIdron. "I know you
haven't any gun. Cody pitched it
out into the patio and I saw Round
tree pick it up and holster it and
carry it off with him. Going to
open up?"
mo. Not on your life. And if you
try it, III yell my head off, and
I've got voice that'u call the hogs
home a mile; and the Cole Cody you
mention will be here like a shot
and will work on you the way he did
this morning, only III bet my hustle
he'll do better and more lasting
job this time"
That's something to think
about" said Waldron, and sounded
reasonable and thoughtful. Then he
fell silent. A moment later she could
hear his footsteps, moving away.
By now Ann Lee was thoroughly
frightened. She was sitting UP, the
bed covers clutched up to her throat
as though for protection.
He won't come back, I'm sure Of
it." said Aunt Jenifer. Yet she
wasn't sure, and he did come back.
That was only after he had pom
dered a moment, after he had re-
turned to his room and Tom
Coughs. He saw signs of the in
vasion; he marked the rug turned
back showing the stain on the floor
boards, he even saw the telltale spot
on the grayish-white blanket. He
looked things over IN his own room
his papers had been tempered
with-and the letter from Bucktooth
Jenkins to old Early Bill was gone.
No man, even fool enough to have
left that letter as he had, would be
fool enough not to realize what its
seizure implied. For time he was
at his wits end; there was the off
chance that Cole Cody would not
hear Aunt Jenifer's and the girls
screams: a slim, slim chance on a
quiet night even in so big a house.
But there was still another chancel
Slim, this one too, but a possibility
Cole Cody might not be in the house
at all; he might have ridden into
Bald Eagle during the evening, anx-
ious and impatient about the will,
seeking the Judges counsel. At
least It could do no harm to discov-
er whether Cody were in or out.
He went swiftly yet on tip-toe to
Cody's room. He raped gently,
saving, Cody, are you there? I've
got terrible cramps; have you got a
shot of whiskey with your"
When he waited for an answer and
got none, he tried the door. It was
unlocked and he went in, striking a
match as he crossed the thresh-
old. There was no one in the room!
No Cody to come running if Aunt
Jenifer yelled her head off And no
Ikelyhood of Cody returning this
time of night
So Rance Waldron returned
promptly to Jenifer Edwards room.
There was grim determination in his
voice as he said,
ST am going to shoot the lock
off your door-or I'll go get an ak.
You had better open up. AS for
calling that Cody hombre, it's no