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

"AQ right; I'm taking your word for
it." and started back down the corri-
dor to his room.
Then Bill Cole Cody stepped along
through the darkness toward the
rooms where Ann Lee and her aunt
were imprisoned. He, like Waldron
before him, struck q match or two.
Arrived at his destination, he said,
"Will you ladies open up to me? It's
in the cards, think, that I have a
word with you"
1t was Ann Lees swift hand that
unlocked the door; Cody, his gun
still in his hand, since he trusted
Rance Waldron in nothing, made no
move to cross the threshold. His
eyes, smoldering under his dark
brows, took in all the loneliness of
the trim little figure before him,
gave no hint of his admiration,
passed on to Aunt Jenifer.
do you care to tell me what
the ruckus was all about?" he asked.
1T might be a good idea" Speak
ing pointedly to Jenifer, he added:
''You were right in what you told me
a while ago. Cal Roundtree and I
have found out a thing or two"
will you step in, Mr.. Cody?"
asked Aunt Jenifer. You're right
welcome"
I'D be glad to do so, ma'am,"
said Cody politely, and stepped
briskly into Ann Lees room.
Aunt Jenifer closed and locked the
door and wasted no further time
giving Cole Cody, with Ann Lee all
ears to take it in, her adventure
of the night. She even handed the
jenkins letter to Cody who read it
and then stood there frowning at it.
81 don't know what to do about
it ALL" he said at last. This letter
found in his room, and the fact of
his having hid wounded man in
his room all day, comes pretty close
to pinning Mr.. Rance Waldron's
ears back. He"
"a man hid in the house all dayl"
gasped Ann Lee. "a wounded man?
Tell me about it,"
cts my notion" said Aunt Jeni-
fer tartly. land reckon it's Cole
Cody's notion, too, that Rance Wal
dron and the man he's been hiding,
are the two that held the stage up
yesterday. Right, Cole?"
Cody nodded.
Right, Aunt Jenifer. And more
than that, Cal Roundtree feels GER
tain that Tom Gough-that's the
man Waldron has been hiding out
is the man who shot old Early Bill.
If all of US are right in our guesses,
we'd better watch our steps. But
if we round these two up and hand
them over to the sheriff, what can
we actually prove against them?
We've got scraps of evidence. but
it's mostly guesswork at that. Try
a man for murder and let the jury
find him innocent, and you can't
ever haul him into court again.
That's the law"
If by some off chance he thought
that under the circumstances a con-
trite Ann Lee would break down and
plead to be forgiven, he didn't as
yet quite know his Ann Lee.
She kept her eyes down and her
hands clasped before her, and said
meekly,
perhaps, Mr.. Cody, that the shot
you received this morning was sent
by Providence to remind one that
the spirit of man should never be
proud, whereas if you stood out
there in the lamp light and Mr..
Waldron popped bullet into you,
it would probably only show that
you are bigger fool than he is"
Aunt Jenifer said crisply, 'Sit
down, Mr.. Cody. Seems as though
you're always to save our bacon
from falling into the fire. Let's have
a bit of war talk, shall WEI"
''Auntie!" Ann Lee glared at Miss
Edwards, using one of the highest
grade glares she kept in stock. For
this war talk of yours hadn't we
better step into your room?"
''This suits me fne," said Cody,
and sat down.
There is merit in my niece's sug-
gestion, Mr.. Cody" she said.
You'll note if you look about you
that her room is in some disarray;
you see the dear child had already
retired and was fast asleep when
the fireworks started My room
you'll find as spick and span as
always am. This way, please"
So the three went to the adioin-
ing room and sat down, Ann Lee hav-
ing returned to her own for the ex-
ira chair needed.
''Now for the war talk" said
Cody. He reached for tobacco and
papers.
''Cal and l figured the whole thing
out about as you do. Cal thought it
might be a good idea to hang the
two of 'em right away, and save
bother and fooling around. Maybe
he was right. Yet come right down
to it we don't really know thing
about either Rance Waldron or Tom
Cough. But I can't see much to be
done on it tonight. It's kind of late
and me, for one, I'm clean tuckered
with the shooting-up this young lady
handed me and the ride tonight.
Suppose we talk this over, getting
Cal in on it, in the morning and
maybe sending for the Judge and
Doc Joe to help give us a steer?"
Ann Lee looked her relief: Aunt
Jenifer nodded and said vehement
ly, "Mr. Cody. I want you to stay
near to tonight I'll sleep with Ann
Lee. and you take my room. Won
your"
Cody rose and bowed; it was a
rather graceful bow, thought Ann
Lee as she and Aunt Jenifer rose
also.