The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1943-01-28

He flung the papers down on the
table.
They're not worth the price of a
torn cigarette paper" he said, full
of confidence. ANY court, any man
not altogether drunk or altogether
an idiot, will tell you that the old
man was clean crazy when he
signed them" He wasn't looking at
either Ann Lee or Cole Cody, but his
eyes hickered back and forth be-
tween Doc Joe and the Judge. "You
two witnessed these documents;
well! You know that when a man
gives all he's got to one person,
and at the same minute gives it all
to another person, he doesn't give
anything to anybody! Am right?"
"Well?" demanded Rance Wal
dron.
When no one else seemed to have
anything to say, Aunt Jenifer spoke
up brightly.
Have all you gentlemen had
breakfast" she asked. wills and
things, you know, can wait longer
than appetites."
Before departing with Doc Joe,
the Judge had cleared his throat a
couple of times and had gone so
far as to say,
Speaking of evictions, seems to
me as though Cal Roundtree might
just possibly be within his rights to
throw out the whole kit and ca
Doodle of you. But as to any of
the rest of you evicting anyone else
well, I reckon it would have to be
like the Irishman playing the fiddle,
by main strength and awkwardness.
Better sit in at a poker game and
play for it." And in haste the Judge
caught up with Doc Joe, and cloud
of dust showed the way the two had
taken-each with an honestly earned
five hundred dollars in his jeans.
Old Early Bills house was big
enough to accommodate score of
people; consequently it's present in
habitants, little Ann Lee and Aunt
Jenifer, Cole Cody and Rance Wal
dron could all dwell under the one
roof without running into each other
all the time.
Thus for time the big house was
divided against itself, and all was
outwardly peaceful in an atmosphere
reeking with watchfulness and sus-
picion. Rance Waldron was locked
up in his own quarters, ostensibly
concerning himself with various pa
pers and accounts he had found
here. Ann devoted hours to investi-
eating the house.
As for young Cole Cody, he left
the house as soon as he had slowed
his few belongings in his room, and
went down to the eutbuildings along
the creek, by the barn, seeking Cal
Roundtree.
He was sitting on a log that had
been hauled up to the woodpile,
smoking contemplatively, with his
wreck of a black Stetson pulled
down over his eyes. His head came
up with snap as he heard foot
steps.
mind if l perch alongside your"
demanded Cody. 1--WE just had
long walk and am sort of leg
weary"
Squat" said Cal Roundtree.
Cody lowered himself to the log and
reached for his own papers and
muslin bag of fine-f1aked tobacco,
Roundtree cycling him narrowly all
the while. whats on your mind,
Cody?" he asked bluntly.
Plenty" Cole Cody told him, and
licked his cigarette and lighted it.
81 think I own this outfit now; I'm
not sure Of anything. That girl up
at the house."
She's the prettiest specimen of
the girl species l ever clapped eyes
on, and in my time I've seen some
of 'em cute enough to take prizes.
And she's got as much spunk as
anybody needs, with maybe a mite
extra thrown in"
"She's not bad looking, that's a
fact" agreed Cody without enthusi-
asm. "As for spunk, she's got as
much temper as you'd find in two
wild cats with their tails tied to-
gether. What l was going to say,
here's a funny mix-up: I think /
own the place and she thinks she
owns it. On top of all that, there's
that Rance Waldron fellow who puts
in his claim"
"You see," Cole Cody continued,
81 never knew Early Bill Cole. Or
if I did know him, as Doc Joe and
the Judge seem to be sure of, then
I didn't know l knew him. Maybe
that's hard to get, but that's the
only way / can put it."
HE was queer old rooster" said
Cal Roundtree. st guess / knew
him about as well as anybody ever
did; worked for him for sixteen
years, and out on the range we
slept together more than once, and
we ct together and got mad at one
another. He was, to my notion, the
finest man that ever walked in a
pair of boots or forked horse or
got drunk or played cards or gave
his money with both hands to folks
that was in want, and he didn't ask
any questions about their pedigree.
Yep, I knew old Early Bill as well
as anybody on earth"
Somebody shot him?"
"Yes. I'm just hoping with all
my hope-machinery that some day
I'll find out who did that for old
Bill"
TEL me about it; all that you
Know"