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TFfF
TRAIL
An Alaskan Love
Story
By
William Macleod Raine
sH
Copyright, Wllllnm Maclcod Ratne.
YUKON
v
UOLT RECOGNIZES ELLIOT, AND THE TWO OVERPOWER
ING THE KIDNAPERS, RETURN TO KAMATLAH, WHERE
ELLIOT LEARNS TRUTH ABOUT COAL LAND DEALS
Synopsis. An n representative of the government Gordon Elliot la
on lils way to Alnska to Investigate coal claims. On the boat he meets
and becomes Interested In a fellow passenger whom ho learns Is Shebn
O'Neill, also "going In." Colby Macdonnld, nctlvo head of the land
grabblng Byndlcato under Investigation, comes aboard. Macdonald Is
attacked by mlno laborers whom ho has discharged, and the actlvo
Intervention of Elliot probably saves his llfo. Elliot and Macdonald
become In a measure friendly, though tho latter does not know that
Elliot Is on a mission which threatens to spoil pluns of Mucdonald to
acquire millions of dollars through tho unlawful exploitation of Im
mensely vnlunblo coal llclds. Elliot also "gets a lino" on tho position
occupied by Wally Selfrldge, Macdounld's right-hand muu, who la re
turning from n visit to "tho States," where ho had gono In an effort to
convlnco the authorities that there wns nothing wrong In Mncdonald's
niethods. Landing at Kuslak, Elliot finds that old friends of his, Mr.
and Mrs. Paget, aro tho people whom Shcba has como to visit., Mrs.
Paget Is Shebn's cousin. At dinner Elliot reveals to Macdonald tho
object of his coming to Alaska. Tho two men, nnturally antagonistic,
now also bocorao rivals for tho hand of Shcba. Macdonald, foreseeing
failure of his financial plans If Elliot learns tho fucts, sends Selfrldge to
Kamatlah to arrange matters so that Elliot will be deceived as to tho
truo situation. Elliot also leaves for Kamullah and, wandering from tho
trail, bellovcs that ho faces death. Selfrldge, on his arrival at Kamatlah,
has his agents abduct Gideon Holt, old-time miner, who knows too much
about Macdonnld's activities.
CHAPTER VIII Continued.
A man staggered drunkenly Into
view. He reeled halfway across tho
mouth of the draw and stopped. Bis
yea, Questing dully, fell upon the
camp. He stared, as If doubtful
whether they had played him false,
then lurched toward tho waiting group.
"Lost and all in," Holway.satd In a
whisper to Dud.
The other man nodded. Neither of
,them made a move toward tho
tranger, who stopped In front of their
camp and looked with glazed eyes
from one to another. His face was
'drawn and haggard and lined. Ex
treme exhaustion showed In every
movement Ho babbled incoherently.
"Don't you 'see he's starving and out
of bis head)" Bnapped Holt brusquely.
"Get him grub, pronto."
The old man rose and moved toward
the suffering man. "Come, pard. Tim's
'01 right Sit down right hero and
go to it, as the old sayln' is." Ho led
the man to a place beside Big BUI
" ,and made him sit down. "Better light
it lire, uoys, ami get houiu cuiicu uu.
Don't give nlm too much solid grub
at first"
The famished man ate what was
liven him and clamored for more.
Coming up soon, pardner," Holt
told him soothingly. "Now tell us
1uw come you to get lost."
Tho man nodded gravely. "Hit that
line' low, Gord. Hit er low. Only
three yards to gain."
"Plumb bughouse," commented Dud,
chewing tobacco stolidly.
"Out of his hend that's all. Ho'll
be right enough after he's fed up and
A Man Staggered Drunkenly Into View.
had a good sleep. But right now he's
sure some Exhibit A. Look ut the
bones sticking through his cheeks,"
Big Bill commented.
"Come, Old-Timer. Get down In
your collar to It Onco more now.
Don't lie down on tho job. All together,
now." The stranger clucked to an
Imaginary horso and made a motion
of lifting with his hands.
"Looks like his hawss Is bogged
down In Fifty Mile swamp," suggested
Holt
"Looks like,1' agreed Dud.
The old miner said no moro. But his
eyea narrowed to shining silts. If this
'man had como through Fifty Mlo
Bwamp, he must bavo started from tho
river. That probably meant that ho
bad come from Kuslnk, Ho was a
young man, talking tho Jargon of a
'ollegft football player. Without doubt
he was, In the old phrasing of the
North, a chechako.
Gideon Holt's sly brain moved keen
ly to tho possibility that he could'put
a name to this human derelict they
had picked up. He began to see It
as moro than a possibility, as even a
probability, at least as a fifty-fifty
chance. A sardonic grin hovered about
the corners of his grim mouth. It
would be a strange freak of Irony If
Wally Selfrldge, to prevent a meeting
between him and tho government land
agent, had sent him a hundred miles
into tho wilderness to save the life of
Gordon Elliot and so had brought
about the meeting that otherwise
would never haye taken place.
CHAPTER IX.
The Rah-Rah Boy Function.
Big Bill grumbled a good deal at tho
addition to tho party. It would bo de
cidedly r awkward if this stranger
should 'become rational and under
stand tho status of the camp he had
joined. Tho word ot old Holt alone
might be negligible, but supported by
that of a disinterested party It would
be a very different matter. Still, there
was no help for It They would hnvo
to take coro of the man until he was
able to travel. At the worst Big BUI
could glvo him a letter to Selfrldge
explaining things and so pass the buck
to that gentleman.
Old Holt had, with the tacit consent
of his guards, appointed himself ns a
sort of nurso to tho stranger. Early
in the evening the sick man fell Into
a sound sleep, from which he did not
awako until morning. George was
away looking after the packhorscs,
Dud wns cooking breakfast, and Big
BUI, his rlflo closo at hand, was chop
ping young firs fifty feet back of the
camp. The cook also hud a gun, load
ed with buckshot lying on a box be
side him, bo that they wero taking no
chances with their prisoner.
The old miner turned from rearrang
ing tho boughs of green fir on the
smudgo to seo thnt his patient was
awake ana nls mind normal. Thn
quiet, steady eyes resting upon hlra
told hlra thnt tho delirium had passed.
"Pretty nenrly all in, wasn't I?" tho
young man said.
Tho answer of Gld Holt wns an odd
one. "Yep. Seven eleven fifteen.
Tnko 'or easy, old men," ho said in his
shrill, high voice ns ho moved toward
tho man In tho blankets. Then, in n
low tone, whllo ho pretended to nr
rnngo tho bedding over tho stranger,
ho asked u quick question.
"Aro you Elliot?"
"Yes."
"Don't fell them. Talk football
lingo as If you was still out of your
hold." Holt turned and cnlled to Dud.
"Says he wants some breakfast."
"Oh tho way," tho cook answered.
Holt seemed to bo soothing tho de
lirious man. What ho really said was
this. "Selfrldge has arranged n plant
for you at Kamatlah. Tho camp has
been turncu insiuo out to fool you.
They'vo brought, me hero a prisoner
so as to keep mo from telling you tho
truth. Pstt Tuno up now."
Big BUI had put down his ax and
was approuciung. no -was not ex
actly suspicious, but ho did not be
llcvo In taking unnecessary chances.
"I tell you I'm out of training.
Ployed tho last game, haven't we?
Como through with a square meal, you
four-flusher," demanded Elliot In a
querulous voice. Ho turned to Mncy.
"Look here, Cap. Haven't I played
tho game nil fall? Don't I get what I
want now wo'ro through?"
Tho voice of tho young mnn was ex
cited. Ills eyes had lost their quiet
steadiness and roved rdstlessly to and
fro. If Big BUI had held any doubts
ono glnnco dissipated them.
"Sure you do. Hustlo over and help
Dud with tho breakfust Holt I'll look
out for our friend."
Elliot and Holt found no moro
chanco to talk tognther that morning.
Sometimes tho young government of
flclal lay staring straight In front of
him. Sometimes ho appeared to doze.
Again ho would talk In tho disjointed
way of ono not clear In tho bend.
An opportunity enmo in tho nftcr
noon for n moment
"Keep your eyes skinned for a
clinnco to lay out tho guard tonight
and get his gun," Holt snld quickly.
Oordon 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 was passing
on his way to tho place whero the
horses wero hobbled.
"Now now 1 Tliero ain't nobody
trylag to boss you," Holt explained In
u patient voice.
"They'd better not," snapped the In
valid. "Some scrapper that kid," said the
horso wrangler with ,a grin.
Mucy took tho first watch that
night .Ho turned In at two after he
had roused Dud to take his place. Tho
cook had been on duty about un hour
when Elliot kicked Holt, who was
sleeping beside him, to make suro that
ho was ready. The old man answered
the kick with another.
Presently Gordon got up, yawned
and strolled toward the edgo of the
camp.
"Don't go and get lost, young fel
low," cnuUoned Dud.
Gordon, on his way back, passed bo
hind tho guard, who was sitting tailor
mmtnmf.
His 8trong Fingers Closed on the Gul
let of the Man.
fashion before a smudgo with a muley
shotgun across his knees.
"This ain't no country for checha
koes to bo wandering around without
a keeper," the cook continued. "Looks
like your folks would have better
senso than to let their rah-rah boy"
He got no farther. Elliot dropped to
ono kneo and his strong fingers closed
on tho gullet of tho man so tightly that
not even a groan could escape him.
Tho old miner, waiting with every
musclo rendy and every nerve under
tension, flung aside his blanket and
hurled himself at tho guard. It took
him less tlmo than It takes to tell to
wrest the gun from tho cook.
Ho got to his feet just as Big BUI,
his eyes and brain still fogged with
sleep, sat up and began to tnko notlco
of tho disturbance.
"Don't move," warned nolt sharply.
"Better throw your hands up. No
monkey business, do you hear? I'd as
Ucf blow a hole through you as not."
Big Bill turned bitterly to Elliot.
"So you were faking nil tho time,
young fellow. Wo save your llfo and
you round on us. You're a pretty slick
proposition ns a double-crosser,"
"And thnt nln't nil," chirped up Holt
blithely. "Let rao lntroduco our friend
to you, Mr. Big BUI Mncy. This Is
Gordon Elliot, tho land agent ap
pointed to look over tho Kamatlah
clnlms. Selfrldge guvo you lads this
pcnltcntlnry Job so as I wouldn't meet
Elliot when ho reached tho camp. If
ho hadn't been so darned anxious
about It, our young friend would havo
died here on tho divide. But Mr. Self
rldgo kindly, outfitted a party and sent
us a hundred miles Into tho hills to
rescue the perishing, as tho old sayln'
goes. Consequenco is, Elliot and rao
meet up and havo thnt nice confiden
tial talk nftcr all. Tho ways of Prov
idence Is strange, as you might eay,
Mr. Mncy."
"Your trick," conceded Big BUI sul
lenly. "Now what aro you going to
do with us?"
"Not n thing going to leave you
right hero to prospect Wild Gooso
creek," unswered Holt blandly. "Dur
den says thcro's gold up here heaps
of It" ,
BUI Macy condemned Durden In lan
guage profano and energetic. Ho
didn't stop at Durden. Holt came In
for a share of it, also Elliot and Selfrldge.
"Cut It out, Bill. That lino o' tnlk
don't buy you anything," snld Holway
curtly. "What's tho use of beefing?"
"Now you're shouting, my friend,"
agreed old Gideon. "I guess, Elliot,
you can loosen up on tho chef's thront
nwhllc. He's had persuading enough
don't you reckon? I'll sit hero and
sorter keep tho boys compnny whllo
you cut tho pnek-ropes and bring 'cm
here. But first I'd step In nnd unload
all the lmrdwnro they're packing. If
you don't one of them is likely to get
anxious. I'd hate to seo any of them
commit sulcldo with nono of their
friends hero to say, 'Don't he look nat
ural?'" Elliot brought back tho pack-ropes
and cut them into sultnblo lengths.
Holt's monologue rambled on. Ho was
garrulous and affable. Not for n Ion
tlmo had ho enjoyed himself so much.
Gordon tied tho hands of Big BUI
behind him, then roped hts feet togeth
er, after which he did tho same for
Holway. Tho old miner superintended
tho job nnd was 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 Kamatlah. I'll take one
bronch and leavo the other to tho con
victs," said Holt cheerfully.
"Forget that convict stuff," growled
Macy. "With Macdonald back of us
and tho Guttcnchllds back of him,
you'll have a hectic time getting any
thing on us."
"That might be true If these folks
wero back of you. But are they?
Course I ain't any Sherlock Holmes,
but It don't look to me 'like they'd play
uny such fool system ns this." '
After Holt had packed one of the
animals he turned to Elliot
"I reckon we're rendy."
Under orders from Elliot Dud fixed
up the smudges and arranged the mos
quito netting over the bound men so
as to give them nil the protection pos
sible. "Wo'ro going to take Dud with us
for a part of the trip. We'll send him
back to you later In the day. You'll
have to fast till ho 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. Yon know what that
means," explained Gordon.
"It ain't likely any grizzlies will
come pokln their noses Into camp. But
you never can tell. Any last words
you want sent to relatives?" asked
Gideon Holt
The last words they heard from Big
BUI as they moved down the draw
were sulphuric.
It was three o'clock In the morning
by the watch when they started. About
nine they threw off for breakfast By
this time they wero, just across the
divide and were ready to take the
down trail.
"I think we'll let Dud go now," El
liot told his partner In tho adventure.
"Better hold him till afternoon. Then
they can't possibly reach us till we
get to Kamatlah."
"What does It matter If they do?
We have both rifles and have left them
only one revolver. Besides, I don't
like to leave two bound men nlono In
so wild a district for any great time.
No, we'll start Dud on the back trail.
That grizzly you promised Big BUI
might really turn up."
The two' men struck the headwaters
of Wild Goose creek about noon nnd
followed tho stream down. They trav
eled steadily without haste. So long
as they kept n good lookout there was
nothing to be feared from the men
they had left bchtnd. They had both
a long; start and tho advantage of
weapons.
If Elliot had ndvertised for a year
he could not havo found n man who
knew moro of Colby Mncdonald's past
than Gideon Holt. Tho old man had
worked a claim on Frenchman creek
with him nnd had by sharp practice
so at least ho had como to believe
been lawed out of his rights by tho
shrewd Scotsman. For seventeen years
ho had nursed a grudge against Mac
donald, and ho wns never tired of talk
ing about him. Ono story In particu
lar Interested Gordon.
"There wns Fnrrell O'Neill. He was
n good fellow, Fnrrell wns, but ho had
Just ono weakness. There was times
when'bo liked tho bottle too well. He'd
let It nlono for months nnd then just
lap the stuff up. It was tho tlmo of
tho stampede to Bonanza creek. Well,
tho news of tho strike on Bonnnza
reached Dawson nnd wo nil burnt up
tho trail to get to the new ground
first O'Neill was ono of tho first Ho
got in nbout twenty below Discovery,
If I remember. Mac wasn't in Dawson,
but ,ho got there next ino'nin' and
heard tho news. Ho lit out for Bo
nanza pronto."
Tho old "miner stopped, took a chew
of tobacco, nnd looked down Into tho
vnllcy fur below where Kamatlah
could just bo seen, a Uttlo huddlo of
huts. ,
"Well?" asked Elliot It wns occa
sionally necessary to prompt Holt
when bo paused for his dramatic ef
fects.
"Mac drops In and Joins O'Neill at
night They knew each other, y' un
derstand, so o' course It wns natural
Mac would put up nt his camp. O'Neill
had n partner nnd they had located
together.- Fellow nntned Strong."
"Not Hnnford Strong, n little, heavy
set man somewhere around fifty?"
"You've tagged tho right mnn.
Know him?"
"I've mot him."
"Well, I never heard anything
npnlnst Hnn Strong. Anyway, he was
off thnt night packing grub up whllo
Fnrrell held down tho clnlm. Mnc hnd
n Jug of boozo with him. He got Fnr
rell tanked up. You know Mnc how
ho can put it across when he's n mind
to. He's n forceful devil, nnd ho can
bo a mighty likable one. But when he
Is friendliest you want to watch out
he don't slip nn uppcrcut nt you that'll
put you out of biz. Ho dono that to
Fnrrell nnd dono it a-plenty."
"How?"
"O'Neill got mellowed up till he
thought Mnc wns his best friend. Ho
wns ready to eat out of his hnnd. So
Mac works him up to sign n contract
before witnesses too; trust Mnc for
that exchanging his half Interest in
tho claim for five hundred dollars In
cash and Mac's no-'count lenso on
Frenchman creek. Insldo of n week
Mnc nnd Strong struck n big pay
strenk. They took over two hundred
thousand from the spring clean-up."
"It was nothing better than rob
bery." "Coll It what you wont to. Anyhow
It stuck. O'Neill kicked, nnd that's all
the good It did him. He consulted law
yers at Dawson. Finally ho got so
discouraged that he plumb went to
pieces got on a long bat and stayed
there till his money ran out. Then
one bitter night ho starts up to Bo
nanza to have It out with Mac. The
mercury 'was so low It had run Into
the ground a foot Fnrrell slept In
a deserted cabin without a fire and
not enough bedding. Ho cnught pneu-
mony. By tho time ho renched the
claim he was a mighty sick man. Next
week he died. That's all Mac dono
to O'Neill. Not a thing that wasn't
legal, either."
Gordon thought of Sheba O'Neill as
she sat listening to tho tales of Mac
donald In Diane's parlor and his gorge
rose at tho man.
"But Mac had fell on his feet all
right," continued Holt "He got his
start off that claim. Now he's a mil
lionaire two or three times over, I
reckon."
They reached tho outskirts of Ka
matlah about noon of the third day.
Gordon left Holt at his cabin after
they had eaten nnd went in nlono to
look tho ground over. Ho met Self
rldge at the 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 come to this
holo for any other reason. Howland
and his wife aro the only possible
peoplo here. Of course you'll stop
with us."
Elliot answered genially. "Pleasant
time we had on tho river, didn't we7
Thanks awfully for1 your Invitation,
but I've already made arrangements
for putting up."
"Where? There's no decent place
In camp except at Howland'c."
"I couldn't think of troubling fcim,"
countered Gordon.
"No trouble nt all. We'll send for
your things. Whero aro they?"
The land ngent let blm havo It be
tween tho eyes. "At Gideon Holt's.
y&-j-C
"At Gideon Holt's."
I'm staying with him on his claim."
Wally had struck a match to light a
cigarette, but this stmplo statement
petrified him. His jaw dropped and
his oyes bulged. Not till tho flame,
burned bis fingers did ho como to life.
"Did you say you wero staying
wlUi Gld Holt?" he floundered.
"Yes. Ho offered to board me," an
swered tho young roan blandly.
"But I didn't knew he was here
'
seems to mo I had henrd somewhere
thnt ho wns away. Seems to me I
heard ho went prospecting."
"He did. Up Wild Gooso creek,
with Big BUI Mncy nnd two other men.
But I nsked him to come bnck with
me nnd ho did."
Feebly Wnlly groped for the clue
without finding It Had Big BUI sold
htm out? And how hnd Elliot got Into
touch with him?
"Just so, Mr. Elliot. But really, you
know, Howland can make you n great
deal moro comfortable than Holt His
wlfo Is n famous cook. I'll have a
mnn go get your traps."
"It's very good of you, but I think
I won't move."
"Oh, but you must nolt's nutty
nobody nt home, you know. Every
body knows thnt"
"Is ho? Tho old mnn struck me as
being rcmnrknbly elenr-headed. By
the way, I want to thank yon for send
ing n relief party out to find mo, Mr.
Selfrldge. Except for your help I
would hnve died In tho hills."
This wns nnothcr facer for Wally.
What the devil did the fellow mean?
The deuce of it was that he knew nil '
tho facts and Wnlly did not. One
thing stood out to Selfrldge like a soro
thumb. His plnns hnd come tumbling
down like a house of enrds. Either
Big Bill hnd blundered amazingly, or
he hnd played traitor. In either case
Wally could guess pretty shrewdly
whose hide Macdonnld would tan for
the failure. Tho chief wanted results.
He did not ask of his subordinates how
they got them. And thlB was tho 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 compnnlons reached
Kamatlah early next day. They re
ported at once to Selfrldge. It hnd
been tho intention ot Wally to vent
upon them tho bnd temper that had
been gathering ever since his talk with
Elliot But his flrjt sarcastic ques
tion drew such a snarl of anger that
ho reconsidered. The men were both
sullen nnd furious.
The little mnn became alarmed. In
stead of reproaches ho gave them soft
words nnd promises. The company
would see them through. It would pro
tect them against criminal procedure,
But above nil they must stand pat In
denial. A conviction would be Impos
sible even If the state's attorney filed
an Indictment against them. Mean
while they would remain on the com
pany pay roll.
Gordon Elliot wns a trained Investi
gator. Even without Holt at his side
ho would probably hnve unearthed the
truth about the Kamatlah situation.
But with tho Uttlo miner by his side
to tell him the facts, he found his task
an easy one.
Selfrldge followed orders and let
htm talk with the men freely. All ot
them had been drilled till they knew
their story like parrots. They wero
suspicious of tho approaches of N El
liot, but they bad been warned that
they must appear to talk candidly.
The result wns that some talked too
much and some not enough. They let
slip admissions under skillful exami
nation that could bo explained on no
other basis .than that of company
ownership.
II' .h Selfrldge and Howland outdid
themselves in efforts to establish close
social relations. But Gordon wns care
ful to put himself under no obligations.
Within two weeks Elliot bad fln-
ished his work nt Kamatlah.
"Off for Kuslak tomorrow," he told
Holt that night
Tho old miner went with him as a
guide to tho big bend. Gordon had
no desire to nttempt again Fifty Milo
swamp without the help of someono
who knew every foot of tho trail. With
nolt to show the way the swamp be
came merely a hard, grueling mush
through boggy lowlands.
Weary with tho trail, they reached
tho river at tho end of a long day.
An Indlnn vlllngo lay sprawled along
tho bnnk, nnd through this tho two
men tramped to tho rondhouso whero
they were to put up for tho night
Holt cnlled to tho younger man, who
was at tho time in tho Jead.
"Walt a minute, Elliot"
Gordon turned. Tho old Alaskan
was offering a quarter to a little half
nnked Indian boy. Shyly the four-year-old
cumo forward, a step at a
time, his finger in his mouth.
"What's your nnmo, kid?" Holt
flashed n look nt Elliot that warned
him to pny attention.
"Colmac," the boy answered bash
fully, i
Ills fist closed on the quarter, be
turned, nnd llko a startled caribou he
fled to a comely young Indian woman
standing near tho trail.
With gleaming oyes Holt turned to
Elliot "Take a good look at the
squaw," ho said In a. low voice
m. -r' m
Macdonald and Elliot drop
pretenso of friendship and start
bitter struggle for Sheba'a hand.
The next Installment tells how
Macdonald gained the first ad
vantage. he:
(TO BB CONTINUED.)
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