THE 8EMI.WEEKLV TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
V
An Alaskan Love
Story
By
William MacJeod Raine
Copyright, William Mnclcod Ralne.
TRAIL
HOLT RECOGNIZES ELLIOT, AND THE TWO OVERPOWER
ING THE KIDNAPERS, RETURN TO KAMATLAH, WHERE
ELLIOT LEARNS TRUTH ABOUT COAL LAND DEALS
Synopsis As n reprcHontatlvo of tho government Gordon Elliot la
on his way to AlaBka to Investigate coal clulmB. On tlio boat he meets
nod becomes Interested In a fellow passenger whom he learns Is Shcba
O'Neill, also "going In." Colby Mncdonald, active head of tho land
grabbing syndicate under Investigation, comes aboard. Mncdonald Is
attacked by mine laborers whom he has discharged, and the nctlvo
Intervention of Elliot probably saves his life. Elliot and Macdonald
becomo In n measure friendly, though the latter does not know that
Elliot Is on a mission which threatens to spoil plans of Mncdonald to
acquire millions of dollars through tho unlawful exploitation of Im
mensely valuable coal fields. Elliot also "gets u line" on the position
occupied by Wally Selfrldge, Macdonuld's right-hand man, who Is re
turning from a visit to "the States," where he had gone In an effort to
convince tho authorities tlint there was nothing wrong In Mncdonald's
methods. Landing at Kuslak, Elliot finds that old friends of his, Mr.
and Mrs. Paget, nro tho people whom Shcba has como to visit. Mrs.
Paget Is Shcba's cousin. At dinner Elliot reveals to Mncdonald tho
dbject of his coming to AlnBka. Tho two men, naturally antagonistic,
now ulso becomo rlvnls for tho hand of Shcbn. Macdonald, foreseeing
failure of his financial plans if Elliot lenrns tho facts, sends Selfrldge to
Kamatlah to arrange matters so that Elliot will be deceived as to tho
true situation. Elliot also leaves for Kamntlnh and, wnnderlng from the
trail, believes thnt he faces death. Selfrldge, on his arrival ut Kamntlah,
lias bis agents abduct Gideon Holt, old-time miner, who knows too much
about Macdonuld's activities.
CHAPTER VIII Continued.
5
A man staggered drunkenly into
rlow. IIo reeled halfway across the
pQOuth of the draw and stopped. Ills
yes, questing dully, fell upon the
tamp. Do stared, as if doubtful
whether they had played him false,
then lurched toward the watting group.
"Lost and all In," llolwny said in a
whisper to Dud.
Tho other man nodded. Neither of
them made a move toward the
Itrangcr, who stopped In front of their
tamp and looked with glazed eyes
rqm ono to another. Ills face was
Erawn and haggard and lined. Ex
cine exhaustion showed In every
taovemcnt IIo babbled Incoherently.
"Don't you see he's starving and out
ft his bond?" snapped Holt brusquely.
"Got him grub, pronto."
Tho old man rose and moved toward
the suffering man. "Como, pnrd. Tim's
kll right. Sit down right hero and
(To to it, as tho old sayln' is." lie led
tho man to a plnco bcsldo Big Bill
aad made him Bit down. "Better light
0 firo, boys, and got somo coffco on.
Don't glvo him too much solid grub
at first"
Tho famished man ato what was
given him and clamored for more.
"Coming up soon, pardncr," nolt
told him soothingly. "Now tell us
fcow como you to get lost."
Tho man nodded gravely, "mt thnt
lino low, Gord. Hit 'er low. Only
tlxreo yards to gain."
"Plumb bughouse," commented Dud,
(bowing tobacco stolidly.
"Out of his head that's" all. Ho'll
tight enough after he's fed up and
A Man Staggered Drunkenly Into View.
and a good sleep. But right now he's
euro somo Exhibit A. Look at tho
bones sticking through his cheeks,"
Big Bill commented.
"Como, Old-Timer. Get down In
Jw collar to it. Onco more now.
Don't IIo down on tho Job. All together,
Mpvr." Tho stranger clucked to an
Imaginary horse and inndo a motion
tf lifting with his hands.
"Looks llko his hawss Is bogged
"own In Fifty Mile swamp," suggested
olt
"Looks like," agreed Dud.
Tho old miner said no moro. But his
eyes narrowed to shining silts. If this
man hnd come through Fifty Mile
wamp, he must have started from the
L'lvcr, That probably meant that lie
nd come from Kuslak. Ho was
young man, talking tho jargon of a
Hrtlege footbnll player. Without doubt
m
ho was, In the old .phrasing of the
North, n chechako.
Gideon Holt's sly brnln moved keen
ly to the possibility thnt ho could put
a name to this human dnrellpt thnv
had picked up. Ho began to see it
as more man n possibility, as even a
probability, at least as n flftv-flftv
chance. A sardonic grin hovered nbout
tho corners of his grim mouth. It
would bo a strnnce freak of Irnnv if
Wally Selfrldge, to prevent a meeting
between him and tho government land
agent, hnd sent him a hundred miles
into tho wilderness to save thn llfn of
Gordon Elliot and so had brought
unout tlio meeting that otherwise
would never have taken plnco.
CHAPTER IX.
The Rah-Rah Boy Functions.
Big Bill grumbled a good donl nt tho
addition to tho nnrty. It wmflil hn fin.
cldedly awkward If this stranger
Should becomo rntlonal and under
stand tho stntus of tho Cliinn hn hml
Joined. Tho word of old Holt nlono
might bo negligible, but supported by
mat or n disinterested party it would
bo n very different matter, ami. thorn
was no help for it. They would hnvo
10 tnuo care of tho man until hn wnn
nblo to travel. At tho worst. HIp mil
could glvo him a letter to Selfrldge
explaining tilings and so pass tho buck
to that gentleman.
Old Holt had. with tho tnclt
of his guards, appointed himself as n
sort of nur8o to the stranger. Early
In tho evening tho sick man fell Into
n sound sleep, from which ho did not
nwako until morning. George wns
away looking after the tmrkhnruna
Dud was cooking breakfast, and Big
mil, ins rnio cioso nt hand, was chop
ping young firs fifty feet bnck of the
enmp. The cook also Wad a gun., load-
cd with buckshot, lylnc on n linr hn.
side him, so that they were taking no
chances with their prisoner.
alio old miner turned from rearrang
ing tho boughs of green fir on tho
smudge to see thnt his imtlent
awake and his mind normnl. Tho
quiet, steady eyes resting upon him
told him that the delirium had passed.
"Pretty nearly all In, wasn't I?" tho
young man said.
Tho answer of Gld Holt was an odd
one. "Yep. Seven eleven fifteen.
Take 'or easy, old man," ho Hnld In his
shrill, high voice as he moved toward
the mini In the blankets. Then, In a
low tone, while ho protended to ar
range tho bedding over tho stranger,
ho asked n quick question.
"Aro you Elliot?"
"Yes."
"Don't 'tell them. Talk football
lingo as If you was still out of your
bald." nolt turned nnd called to Dud.
"Snys ho wants some lirenkfnst"
un tlio way," the cooknnswered.
nolt Beemed to be soothlm? th ,in.
lirlous man. What he reallv sum wna
this. "Selfrlilue litis nrnmi.ni if
for you at Kmnntlnh. The camp has
been turned Inside out to foot you.
They've brought me hero n prisoner
so us to keep me from telling you tho
trutn. rati Tuno up now."
Big Bill had nut down his I1T niwl
wns approaching. He wns not ex
actly suspicious, but he did not be
llevo In tnkltig unnecessary chances.
"I tell you I'm out of training.
Played the last game, haven't we?
Come through with a square menl, you
four-lliiHher," demnnded Elliot In n
querulous voice. Ho turned to Mucy.
"Look here, Cap. Haven't I played
tho gome all fall? Don't I get what I
want now we're through?"
Tho volco of tho young man wns ex
cited. Ills eyes hud lost their quiet
steadiness and roved restlessly to and
fro. If Big uin i,a nei,i uny doubts
ono glance dissipated them.
"Suro you do. Hustlo over and help
Dud with the breakfast, Holt. 111 look
out for our friend."
Elliot und Holt found no moro
chanco to talk together that mornlns.
Sometimes the young government of
ficial lay staring straight in front of
him. Sometimes ho appeared to doze.
Again he would talk In tho disjointed
way of one not clear In tho head.
An opportunity came In the after
noon for n moment.
' ....
iveep your eyes skinned for a
chance to lay out the guard tonight
and get his gun," Holt said quickly.
Gordon nodded. "I don't know thnt
I've got to do everything Just as you
say," ho complained aloud for tho
benefit of George, who wns passing
on his way to tho place where the
horses were hobbled.
"Now now I There nln't nobody
trying to boss you," Holt explained in
n patient voice.
"They'd better not," snapped tlio In
vnlld.
"Somo scrapper that kid," said the
horse wrangler with a grin.
Macy took the first watch that
night. He turned in nt two nfter he
hud roused Dud to take his place. Tho
cook had been on duty about an hour
when Elliot kicked Holt, who was
sleeping besldo him, to make sure that
he was ready. The old man nnswered
the kick with another.
Presently Gordon got up, yawned
nnd strolled toward tho edge of tho
camp.
"Don't go nnd get lost, young fel
low," cautioned Dud.
Gordon, on his way back, passed be
hind the guard, who was sitting tailor
HIg Strong Fingers Closed on the Gul
let of the Man.
fashion before n smudge with n inuley
shotgun across his -knees.
"This ain't no country for chechn-
kocs to bp wandering around, without
a keeper," tho cook continued. "Looks
llko your folks would have better
sense than to let their rah-rah boy "
He got no farther. Elliot dropped to
ono knee and his strong fingers closed
on tho gullet of tho man so tightly thnt
not even a groan could escape him.
Tho old miner, waiting with every
muscle ready and every nerve under
tension, Hung aside his blanket nnd
hurled himself nt tho guard. It took
him less time than It takes to tell to
wrest tho gun from the cook.
He got to his feet Just as Big Bill,
his eyes and brain still fogged with
sleep, sat up and begun to tuko notice
of tho disturbance.
"Don't move," warned nolt sharply.
"Better throw your hands up. No
monkey business, do you hear? I'd as
lief blow a holo through you as not."
Big Bill turned bitterly to Elliot.
"So you wcro faking all tho time,
young fellow. Wo save your life and
you round on us. You're a pretty slick
proposition us a double-crosser."
"And that nln't nil," chirped up nolt
blithely. "Let mo Introduce our friend
to you, Mr. Big Bill Mncy. This Is
Gordon Elliot, the land agent ap
pointed to look over tho Knmatlah
claims. Selfrldge guvo you lads this
penitentiary Job so as I wouldn't meet
Elliot when he reached tho camp. If
ho hadn't been so darned nnxious
nbout It, our young friend would hnvo
died here on tho divide. But Mr. Self
rldge kindly, outfitted a party and sent
us u hundred miles Into the hills to
rescue tho perishing, ns tho old sayln1
goes. Consequence Is, Elliot and mo
meet up und have that nice confiden
tial talk after nil. Tho ways of Prov
idence Is strange, as you might say,
Mr. Macy."
"Your trick," conceded Big Bill sul
lenly. "Now what nro you going to
do with us?"
"Not n thing going to lenvo you
right here to prospect Wild Gooso
creek," answered nolt blandly. "Dur
den says thcro's gold up here heap
of it"
BUI Macy condemned Durdcn in lan
guage profana and energetic. He
didn't stop nt Dunlen. Holt came In
for a share of it, also Elliot and Selfrldge
"Cut It out, Bill. That lino o' talk
don't buy you anything," Enid Holwny
curtly. "What's the use of beefing?"
"Now you're shouting, my friend,"
ngrecd old Gideon. "I guess, Elliot,
you enn loosen up on tho chefs throat
awhile. He's had persuading enough
don't you reckon? I'll sit hero and
sorter keep the boys company while
you cut tho pnek-ropes and bring 'cm
here. But first I'd step In and unlond
nil tho hardware they're packing. If
you don't ono of them Is likely to get
anxious. I'd hnto to see any of them
commit sulcldo with none of their
friends here to say, 'Don't he look nat
ural?' "
Elliot brought back tho pack-ropes
and cut them Into sultnble lengths.
Uolt's monologue rambled on. Ho was
garrulous and affable. Not for u long
time had he enjoyed himself so much.
Gordon tied the hands of Big BUI
behind him, then roped his feet togeth
er, after which he did the same for
nolway. The old miner superintended
the Job nnd wns not satisfied till he
had added a few extra knots on his
own behalf.
"Thnt'll hold them for. awhile. I
shouldn't wonder. Now If you'll Just
cover friend chef with this sawed-off
gat, Elliot, I'll throw the diamond
hitch over what supplies we'll need to
get back to Komatlah. I'll take one
bronch nnd leave the other to the con
victs," snld Holt cheerfully.
"Forget that convict stuff." growled
Mncy. "With Macdonald back of us
and tho Guttenchllds back of him,
you'll have a hectic time getting any
thing on us."
""That might bo true If these folks
were back of you. But are they?
Course I ain't any Sherlock Holmes,
but It don't look to me llko they'd play
any such fool system as this."
After nolt had packed ono of tho
animals ho turned to Elliot.
"I reckon we're rendy."
Under orders from Elliot Dud fixed
up the smudges and arranged the mos
quito netting over tho bound men so
as to give them all the protection pos
sible. "We're going to take Dud with us
for a part of the trip. We'll send him
uack to you later In the day. You'll
have to fast till he gets back, but out
side of that you'll do very well if you
don't roll around trying to get loose.
Do that, and you'll Jar loose the mos
quito netting. You know what that
means," explained Gordon.
"It nln't likely any grizzlies will
como pokln' their noses Into camp. But
you never can tell. Any last words
you want sent to relatives?" asked
Gideon Holt
Tho last words thoy heard from Big
Bill as they moved down the draw
were sulphuric.
It was three o'clocl- In tho morning
by the watch when they started. About
nine thoy threw off for breakfast. By
this time they were Just across tho
divide and wcro ready to take the
down trail.
"I think we'll let Dud go now," El
liot told his partner In the adventure.
"Better hold htm till afternoon. Then
they can't possibly reach us till we
get to Kamntlnh."
"What does It matter if they do?
Wo have both rifles and hnvo left them
only ono revolver. Besides, I don't
llko to 'leave two bound men nlono in
so wild n district for any great time.
No, we'll start Dud on the bnck trail.
That grizzly you promised Big Bill
might really turn up."
Tho two men struck tho headwaters
of Wild Goose creek about noon nnd
followed tlio stream down. They trav
eled steadily without haste. So long
ns they kept n good lookout there was
nothing to be feared from tho men
they had left behind. They had both
a long stnrt and tho advantnge of
weapons.
If Elliot had advertised for a year
he could not hnvo found a man who
knew moro of Colby Mncdonald's past
than Gideon Uolt The old man had
worked a claim on Frenchman creek
with him nnd hnd by sharp practice
so at least he had como to believe
been lowed out of his rights by tho
shrewd Scotsman. For seventeen years
he had uursed a grudgo against Mac
donald, and ho wns never tired of talk
ing nbout him. Ono story In particu
lar Interested Gordon.
"There vas Farrcll O'Neill, no was
n good fellow, Farrcll was, but he had
Just ono weakness. There was times
when ho liked the bottle too well, ne'd
let It nlono for months and then Just
lap the stuff up. It was tho time of
tho stampedo to Bonanza creek. Well,
tho news of tho strlko on Bonnnza
reached Dawson and wo all burnt up
tho trutl to get to tho ncw ground
first O'Neill wns ono of tho first Ho
got in about twenty below Discovery,
If I remember. Mac wasn't In Dawson,
but ho got thero next mo'nin nnd
heard tho news. Ho Ut out for Bo
nanza pronto."
Tho old miner stopped, took n chew
of tobacco, nnd looked down Into tho
vnlley far below whero Kamatlah
could Just bo seen, a little huddle of
huts.
"Well?" asked Elliot It was occa
sionally necessary to prompt Holt
when he paused for bis dramatic ef
fects. "Mac drops In and Joins O'Neill at
night Thoy knew each otaar,
derstnud, so o' course It was natural
Mac would put up at his camp. O'Neill
had a partner nnd they had located
together. Fellow named Strong."
"Not Hanford Strong, a little, heavy
set man somewhere nround fifty?"
-xouvo tagged tue right man.
Know him?"
"Pvo met him."
"Well, I never heard anything
ngnlnst Hnn Strong. Anywny, he was
off that night packing grub up while
i nrrell held down the claim. Mac had
n Jug of boozo with him. He got Far
rell tanked up. You know Mac how
he can put It across when he's' n mind
to. He's n forceful devil, nnd he can
be n mighty likable one. But when ho
Is friendliest you wnnt to watch out
no don't slip an uppercut nt you that'll
put you out of biz. He done thnt to
Fnrrell and done It n-plenty."
"now?"
"O'Neill got mellowed up till he
thought Mac was his best friend. He
was ready to eat out of his hand. So
Mnc works him up to sign n contract
before witnesses too: trust Mac for
liat exchanging his half Interest In
the clnlm for five hundred dollars In
cash and Muc's no-'count lenso on
Frenchmun creek. Ins' do of n week
Mnc and Strong struck a big pny
streak. They took over two hundred
thousand from the spring clenn-up."
it was nothing better than rob
bery."
"Call It what you want to. Anyhow
It stuck. O'Neill kicked, and that's all
tne good it did him. He consulted law
yers nt Dawson. Finally he got so
discouraged that he plumb went to
pieces got on a long bat and stayed
thero till his money ran out. Then
one bitter night he starts up to Bo
nanza to have It out with Mac. The
mercury was so low it had run into
the ground n foot Fnrrell slept In
n deserted cabin without afire and
not enough bedding. Ho caught pneu
mony. By tho time he reached the
claim he was a mighty sick mnn. Next
week he died. That's all Mac done
to O'Neill. Not n thing that wasn't
legal, either."
Gordon thought of Shebn O'Neill ns
she sat listening to tho tales of Mac
donald in Diane's parlor and his gorge
rose nt the mnn.
"But Mac had fell on his feet nil
right," continued Holt. "He got his
stnrt off that claim. Now he's n mil
lionnlre two or three times over, I
recKon."
They reached the outskirts of Kn
matlah about noon of the third day,
Gordon left Holt nt his cabin after
they had eaten and went in alone to
look tho ground over. He met Self
rldge nt tho post office. That gentle
man was effusive In his greeting.
"This Is a pleasant surprise. Mr. El
liot When did you get in? I'm down
on business, of course. No need to tell
you that nobody would como to this
hole for any other reason. Howlnnd
nnd his wife aro tho only possible
people here. Of course you'll stop
with us."
Elliot nnswered genially. "Pleasant
time we had on tho river, didn't we?
Thanks awfully for your Invitation,
but I've already made arrangements
for putting up."
"Where? There's no decent plnco
In camp except at Howland's."
"I couldn't think of troubling hlra,"
countered Gordon.
"No trouble nt all. We'll send for
your things. Whero aro they?"
The land agent let him have It be
tween tho eyes. "At Gideon Holt's.
"At Gideon Holt's."
I'm staying with him on his clnlm."
Wally had struck n match to light a
cigarette, but this simple statement
petrified him. Ills Jaw dropped and
his eyes bulged. Not till the flame
burned his fingers did he come to life.
"Did you say you were staying
with Gid Holt?" ho floundered.
"Yes. Ho offered to bonrd me," an
swered the young man blandly.
"But X didn't know he was here
seems to mo I had heard somewhere
thnt ho was uway. Seems to mo J
heard he went prospecting."
"Ho did. Up Wild Gooso creek,
with Big BUI Mncy and two other men.
But I asked him to come back wlUs
me nnd he did."
Feebly Wnlly groped for tho clue
without finding It Had Big BUI sold
him out? And how had Elliot got into
touch with him?
"Just so, Mr. Elliot. But really, yon
know, Howlnnd can make you a great
deal moro comfortable than Holt His
wife is a famous cook. I'll havo a
man go get your traps."
"It's very good of you, but I think
I won't move."
"Oh, but you must Holt's nutty
nobody nt home, you know. Every
body knows that"
"Is he? The old man struck me as
being remarkably clear-headed. By
the way, I want to thank you for send
ing n relief pnrty out to find me, Mr.
Selfrldge. Except for your help I
would have died In the hills."
This was another facer for Wally.
What tho devil did the follow meanl
The deuce of It was that he knew all
the facts and Wnlly did not On
thing stood out to Selfrldge like a sore
thumb. His plans had come tumbling
down like a house of cards. Elthei
Big Bill had blundered nmnzlngly, or
he had played traitor. In either case
Wally could guess pretty shrewdly
whose hide Macdonnld would tan for
the failure. The chief wanted results,
ne did not nsk of his subordinates how
they got them. And this was the sec
ond time in succession that Selfrldge
had come to grief.
CHAPTER X.
Gordon Invites Himself to Dinner
and Does Not Enjoy It
Big BUI and his companions reached
Kamntlah early next day. They re
ported at once to Selfrldge. It had
been the Intention of Wally to venl
upon them the bad temper that had
been gathering ever since his talk with
Elliot But his first sarcastic ques
tion drew such n snarl of anger that
ho reconsidered. The men were both
sullen nnd furious.
The little man became alarmed. In
stead of reproaches he gave them soft
words and promises. The company
would see thpm through. It would pro
tect them against criminal procedure,
But above nil they must stand pat 1b
denial. A conviction would be Impos
sible even If the state's attorney filed
an Indictment against them. Menn
while they would remain on tho com
pany pay roll.
Gordon Elliot was a trained investi
gator. Even without Holt at his side
he would probably have unearthed the
truth about the Kamntlah situation.
But with the little miner by his side
to tell him the facts, he found his task
an easy one.
Selfrldge followed orders and let
him talk with the men freely. All of
them hnd been drilled till they knew
their story like parrots. They were
suspicious of tho approaches of El-
Hot, but thoy had been warned that
they must nppenr to talk candidly.
Tho result was that some talked too
much and somo not enough. They let
slip admissions under skillful exami
nation thnt could bo explained on no
other basis than that of company
ownership.
Both Selfrldge nnd Howlnnd outdid
themselves In efforts to establish close
social relations. But Gordon was care
ful to put himself under no obligations.
Within two weeks Elliot had fin
ished his work at Kamatlah.
"Off for Kuslak tomorrow," ho told
Holt that night.
Tho old miner went with him as a
guide to the big bend. Gordon had
no desire to attempt again Fifty Mile
swnmp without the help of somcono
who knew every foot of the trail. With
nolt to show the way tho swamp be
came merely a hard, grueling mush
through boggy lowlands.
Weary with the trail, they reached
the river at the end of n long dny.
An Indian village lay sprawled along
tho bank, and through this the two
men trumped to the roadhouse whore
they were to put up for the night
Uolt called to the younger man, who
wns at the time In the lead. .
"Walt a minute, Elliot"
Gordon turned. Tho old Alaskan
was offering n quarter to a llttlo half-
naked Indian boy. Shyly tho four-year-old
enmo forward, a step at a
time, his finger In his mouth.
"What's your name, kid?" Holt
flashed a look at Elliot that warned
him to pny attention.
"Colmnc," the boy answered bath-
fully.
His fist closed on the quarter, ha
turned, and llko n startled caribou he
fled to a comely young Indian woman
stnndlng near thn trail.
With gleaming yes Holt turned to
Elliot "Take n good look at the
squaw," ho mld In a low voice.
Macdonald and Elliot drop
pretense of friendship and start
bitter struggle for Sheba's hand.
The next Installment tells how
Macdonald gained the first advantage.
(TO BIO CONTINUED.)
