7Pn
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
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it u
n
I'
THE YUKON TRAIL
jin Alaskan Love Story ' ,
By WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE
Copyright, William Macleod Ralne
ELLIOT FINDS HIMSELF IN A SERIOUS PREDICAMENT AS
RESULT OF A REMARKABLE CHAIN
OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
Synopsle-As a representative of tho government Gordon Elliot 1
on bis way to Alaska to Investigate coal claims. On tho boat bo meets
and becomes Interested In a fellow passenger whom bo learns Is Shobu
O'Neill, also "going In." Colby Mncdonnld, nctlvo bead of tho land
grabbing syndicate under Investigation, comes aboard. Elliot and Mnc
donald become In a measuro friendly. 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 Shebn's cousin. At dinner Elliot
reveals to Mncdonnld tho object of his coming to Alaska. Tho two men,
naturally antagonistic, now also becomo rivals for tho hand of Shebn.
Macdonald, foreseeing falluro of his flnunclnl plans If Elliot learns tho
facts, sends Sclfrldge, bis rlght-hnnd man, to Kamatlah to arrange mat
ters so that Elliot will bo deceived as to tho truo situation. Elliot also
leaves for Kamatlah and, wandering from tho trail, believes that ho
faces death. Sclfrldge, on his arrival at Kamatlah, has his agents ab
duct Gideon Ilolr, old-time miner, who knows too much about Mae
donald's activities. Elliot wanders Into tho camp whero Holt Is held a
prisoner. Tho two men, overpowering tho kidnapers, return to Kamat
lah, whero Elliot learns tho truth about the coal land deals. On tho
way back to Kuslak, Elliott meets a squaw, Meteetse, with her child
who, Elliot learns, Is Macdonald's son. Soon after his return, Elliot
learns that Macdonald and Shebn have becomo engaged. Gcnovlevo
Mallory, a dashing widow, who Is determined to win Mncdonnld,
causes Meteetse, with her child, to visit Shebn and tell her story.
She dismisses Macdonald, who blames Elliot for Metcetse's visit.
Macdonald sends word to Elliot that ho will kill him If ho docs not
leave town.
CHAPTER XIII. Continued.
His companion flashed a look of
Warning at him and explained that
they were going down tho river to look
for work outsldo of tho district.
Suddenly Trelawnoy broke loose
fend began to curso Macdonald with a
bitterness that surprised tho govern
ment agent What struck him most,
though, was the obvious anxiety of
fforthrup to quiet his partner and to
gloss over what he had said.
Mot bought an automatic revolver
aext morning and a box of cartridges.
He was not looking for trouble, but he
Intended to be prepared for It when
titrable came looking for him. In the
afternoon he walked out of town and
practiced shooting at tin cans for
.half an hour. On his way back he
art Peter Paget
The engineer came straight to the
object In his mind.
"Selfrldge came to aee me, last night
He told me about the trouble between
yon and Macdonald, Gordon. Ton must
leave town till be cools down. Mac
donald Is a bad man with a gat."
"Is he? There'll bo no trouble of
By making. But If he' starts any Til
be there. Macdonald docsnt own the
earth, you know. 1'vo been sent up
here by Uncle Sam on business, and
yon can bet your last dollar ril stay
ea the Job till Tm through."
, "Of course you've got to finish your
Job. But It doesn't all have to be done
right here. Just for a week or two"
"Tell your friend something else
While you're on the subject If I drop
htm, ,1 go scot free because he Is Inter
fering with me on duty. I'll put Self
ridge on the stand to prove it But
Maedonatd le a Bad Man With a
Oat"
If he should kill me, his last chance for
yetting the Macdonald claims patented
would bo gone. The public would raise
Mch a bowl that the administration
would have to throw your friend and
the Guttenchllds overboard to eavo
Itself. I know that and Macdonald
knows It So he stands to lose either
way."
Paget knew this was true. But bo
aid not drop the subject without
eae more appeal.
"He's not sore at you about the
talma. You know that It's because
yea brought the squaw up the river to
see Sheba."
"I didn't bring her hadn't a thing
to do with that I don't know who
brought her, though X could give a good
Iteas."
3D
A gleam of hope showed In tho eyo
of tho engineer. "You didn't bring
her? Diane said you threatened-"
"Maybe I did sny I would. Anyhow,
I thought better of it But I'm glad
Bomeono had the sense to tell Miss
O'Neill the truth."
"Who do you think brought her?"
Tm not thinking on that subject
out loud."
"But If you could show Mac"
"That's up to you. Til not lift a
Anger. I didn't start this war and Tm
not making any peace overtures."
"You're as obstinate as tho devil,"
smiled Peter, but In his heart he ad
mired the dourness of his friend.
The engineer went to Macdonald and
gave a, deleted version of his talk with
Elliot The Scotsman listened, a hit.
ter. Incredulous smile on his face.
"Bays he didn't bring her, does he?
Tell him from me that he lies. Your
wife let out to me by accident that he
threatened to bring her. Meteetse and
he camo up on the boat together. He
was with her at your house when Bhe
told her story. He's trying to save his
hide. No chance."
"Elliot Isn't a liar. When he says he
didn't bring the woman, that satisfies
me. I know ho didn't do It," Insisted
Paget stiffly.
"Different here. Who else had any
Interest In bringing her except him?
Nobody. Use your brains, Peter. He
takes the first boat down the river. He
comes back on the next one. She
comes back, too. They couldn't figure
Pd be at your house when they
showed up there to tell the story.
That's where Mr. Elliot slipped up."
Peter was of different stuff from
Selfrldge. Ho had something to say.
So ne said It
"Times have changed, Mac. Ydu
can't shoot down this fellow without
making all kinds of trouble. First
thin c. we'd lose our clnlmn. Tho ail.
ministration would drop you like a hot
potato If you did a thing like that
Sheba would never speak to you again.
Your friends would know in their
hearts It was murder. You can't do It"
Macdonald's Jaw clamped. Then
lot him get out That's my last word
to him."
CHAPTER XIV.
Ambushed.
Colby Mncdonnld, In miner's boots
and corduroy working suit, stood be
sldo his horse with one arm thrown
carelessly ncross ita rump, ne was
nbout to start for Seven Mile Creek
camp with $2,700 in tho saddlebags to
pay tho men there.
DInno was talking with him. "She's
young and fine and Bplrlted. Of course
It was a great shock to her. She had
been idealizing you. But I think she
Is beginning to understand things bet
ter. At any rate, Bho does not hate
you any more. GIvo tho girl time."
"You think she will bn rnHnnnhiv,
T don't know. But I'm mrn . ,
thing. Sho'll not bo reasonable, as you
caii u, uniess you are reasonable."
"You mean Elliot?"
"Yes. She likes him verv mnoh. Tin
you know that when the Indian woman
come no urgea Sheba not to listen to
her story?" 6
"Sounds likely after ho had spent
his good money bringing her here,"
sneered tho mlno owner.
"Ho didn't Gordon Is n splendid fel
low. He 'wouldn't Ho," answered Di
ane hotly. "And one thing Is sure if
you lay a finger on him for this, It will
bo fatal with Sheba. She will be
through with you.''
Macdonald had thought of this be
fore. It had been coming to htm from
several different angles that he could'
not afford to gratify his desire to wipe
this meddlesome young official from
his path. He made a slow, sulky
promise.
"All right Til let him alone. Peter
can tell him."
Swinging to the saddle, he spurred
bls horse and cuntcred away. His
mind was full of the problem that had
come into his life. Ho rodo abstract
edly, so that he was at the lower ford
of the creek almost before he knew It
A bilberry thicket straggled down to
the opposite bank of the stream on
both sides of the road.
The hnrsn splashed through tho ford
and took the little rlso beyond with a
niBh. Just before rcnchlng the brow
of the hill, tho .animal stumbled and
fell. As its rider went headlong, he
caught n glimpse of a cord drawn taut
across the path.
Macdonald, shaken by the fall, began
slowly to rise. From tho shadows of
the bilberry bushes two stooping flg-
' fcL-.
He Was Fighting Desperately.
ures rushed at him. He threw up an
arm to ward off the club aimed at his
head, but succeeded only In breaking
the force of the blow. As he staggered
back stunned, a bullet glanced along
his forehead and ridged a furrow
through the thick hair. A second
stroke of the club jarred him to the
heels.
Though his mind was not clear, his
body answered automatically the In
stinct that told him to close with his
assailants. He lurched forward and
gripped one, wrestling with him for
the revolver. Vaguely he know by the
sharp, Jagged shoots of pain that the
second man was beating bis head with
a club. The warm blood dripped
through his hair and blinded bis eyes.
Dazed and shaken, he yet managed to
get tho revolver from the man who had
it But It was his last effort He was
too far gone to use it A blow on the
forehead brought him unconscious to
the ground bleeding from a dozen
wounds.
On bis way back to Seven Mile Creek
camp Gordon Elliot rode down to the
ford. In the dusk he was almost upon
them before the robbers heard him.
For a moment the two men stood gaz
ing at him and he at the tragedy be
fore him. One of the men moved
toward his horse.
"Stop there I" ordered Gordon sharp
ly, and reached for his revolver.
The man It wns tho miner North-rupi-Jumped
for Elliot and the field
agent fired. Another moment and he
was being dragged from tho saddle.
What happened next was never clenr
to him. He knew that both of tho
bandits closed In on him and that he
was fighting desperately against odds.
Tho rovolvcr had been knocked from
his hand and ho fought with bare fists
Just as tbey did.
They quartered over tho ground, for
Gordon would not let either of them
get behind him. They wcro larger
than he, heavy, muscle-bound giants
of great strength, but he was for more
nctlvo on his feet. He Jabbed and
sidestepped and retreated. More thnn
onco their heavy blows crashed on
his face. His eyes dared not wander
from them for an Instant, but he was
working toward a definite plan. As he
moved his feet were searching for the
automatic he had dropped.
One of his feet dragging over the
ground, camo into contact with the
steel. With a swift Bide kick Gordon
flung tho wenpon a dozen feet to the
left. Presently, watching his chance,
he made a dive for it
Trelawney, followed by Northrup,
turned and ran. One of them caught
Macdonald's horso by tho bridle. He
swung to tho saddle and tho other man
clambered on behind. There was a
clatter oi noois and they were gone.
Elliot Btoopcd overdue battered body
that lay huddled ut tho edge of tho
water. So badly had tho faco been
beaten and hammered that It was not
until be bad washed the blood from
the wounds that Gordon recognized
Macdonald.
Opening the coat of the Insensible
man, Gordon put bis hand agalnBt the
heart He could not be sure whether
he felt It beating or whether the throb
bing came from the pulses In his finger
tips. As well as he could ho bound un
the wounds with handkerchiefs and
stanched the bleeding. With Ice-cold
water from tho stream ho drenched
the bruised face. A faint sigh quiv
ered through tho slnck, Inert body.
Gordon hoisted Macdonald across
the saddle and led the horse through
the ford. He walked beside tho animal
to town, and never had two miles
Bcemcd to him so far. With one hand
he steadied tho helpless body thnt lay
ll'-o a sack of flour balanced in the
trough of the saddle.
Kuslak at last lay below blm, and
when he descended the hill to tho sub
urbs almost the first house was the one
where the Pagets lived.
Elliot threw tho body across his
shoulder and walked up tho walk to
tho porch. Ho kicked upon the door
with his foot. Shebn answered the
knock, and at sight of what ho car
ried tho color faded from her face.
"Mncdonnld has been hurt badly,"
he explained quickly.
This way," tho girl cried, and led
him to her own room.
"Get Dlnne nnd n doctor," ordered
Gordon after he had lnld the uncon
scious man on the white sheet.
While he nnd Dlano undressed the
mlno owner Shcba got n doctor on the
telephone. Tho wounded man opened
his eyes nftcr n long time, but there
wns In them tho glaze of delirium. He
recognized none of them. All night
ho raved, and his delirious talk went
back to the wild scenes of his earlier
life. Sometimes ho sworo snvngcly;
again ho rondo quiet, deadly threats;
but always his talk was crisp and
clean nnd vigorous. Nothing foul or
slimy came to tho surface In those
hours of unconscious bnbbllng.
The doctor would make no promises.
"He's n mighty sick man. The cuts
nro deep, nnd tho hammering must
hnve Jnrred his brain terribly. If it
wns nnybody but Mncdonnld, I wouldn't
glvo him a chnnce," ho told Dlnne
when he left in tho morning to get
breakfast. "But Macdonald has tre
mendous vitality. Of course If he lives
it will bo becnuso Mr. Elliot brought
him In so soon."
Gordon walked with the doctor as
'far as tho hotel. A brown, thin,
leathery man undrnped himself, from
a chnlr In tho lobby whcn.Elllot opened
tho door. Ho wns officially known as
tho chief of pollco of Kuslak. Inci
dentally he constituted the whole po
lice force. Generally ho was referred
to as Gopher Jones on account of his
habit of spasmodic prospecting.
T got to put yon under arrest Mr.
Elliot," ho explained.
"What for?' demanded Gordon, sur
prised. "Doc thinks It will run to murder,
I reckon."
The field agent was startled. "You
mean Macdonald?"
The brown man chewed his quid
steadily. "Yon done guessed It"
"That's absurd, yon know. What
evidence have yon got?"
"First off, you'd had trouble with
him. It was common talk that when
you and Mac met, guns were going to
pop. Yon bought an automatic re
volver two days ago. Yon was seen
practicing with it"
"He had threatened me."
"You want to be careful what you
say, Mr. Elliot It will be used against
you." Gopher shot a squirt of to
bacco unerringly at the open door of
tho Stove. "Yon was seen tnlklnc
with Trelawney and Northrup. Monoy
pusBea irom yon to mem."
"I cave them a loan of ten dniinni
each because they were broke. Is that
criminal?" demanded Gordon angrily.
"That's your story. You'll git a
chance to tell It to the Jury, I shouldn't
wonder. Mebbo they'll believe it You
never can tell."
"Believe It I Why, you muttonhead,
I found him where he was bleeding to
death and brought him In."
"That's what I heard say. Kinder
queer, ain't it, you happened to be the
man that found him?"
"Nothing queer nbout it I was rid
ing In from Seven MIIo Creek camp."
Gordon was exasperated, but not at all
alarmed.
vSo you was. While von wns ont at
tho camp you asked one of the boys
how big the pay roll would be."
"Does that prove I was nlannlnir a
hold-up? Isn't thnt the last thing I
would havo asked if I had Intended
robbery?"
"Don't ask me. I ain't no n.whnin.
glgt All I know is you took an Inter
est in me DunK roil on tno way."
Tm here for the Government Inves
tigating Macdonald. I was getting In
formation eurnlng my pay. Can you
understand thnt?"
Gopher chewed his cud Impassively.
"Sure I can. nnd I been enrnlnc mlno
By tho way, how come you to bo beat
up so Dau, air. union"
"I hnd a fight with tho robbers."
"Sure It wnsn't with the robbed?
That split Up of yours looks to mo
plumb like Mac's John Hnncock."
Elliot flushed nmrrllv. "Of mnmn if
you Intend to believe mo guilty"
-now, mure nine no manner o uso
In gettln' het up, young fellow. Meb
be you did It; mebbe you didn't Any
how, you'll glmmo thrit gat you been
toting theso last few days."
Gordon's hand moved toward his
hip. Then ho remembered.
"I haven't It I left' it"
"Yon left It nt tho ford with one
shell empty. That's whero you left
It," Interrupted tho ofllccr.
"Yes. I fired at Northrup as ho
rushed me."
"Um-hu," assented Jones, Impudent
unbelief In his eye. "At Northrup or
nt Macdonald."
"What do you think I did with the
money, then? Did I eat It?"
"Not so you could notice it, Since
you put It to me flat-foot you gave
It to your partners. You didn't want
It They did. They have got the
horse too and they'ro hitting the
high spots to make their getaway."
Elliot was locked up In the flimsy
Jail without breakfast Ho was furi
ous, but as he paced up nnd down the
nnrrow bent beside the bed his nnger
gave way to anxiety. Surely tho Pag
ets could not believe ho had dono such
a thing. And Sheba would she nc
cept ns true this weight of clrcum
stnntlnl evidence that was piling up
against him?
It could all be explained so easily.
And yet the facts fitted Uko links of
a chain to condemn him. He went
over them one by one. Tho babbling
tongue of Sclfrldge thnt haij made
common gossip of the Impending trag
edy In which he nnd Macdonald wcro
the principals his purchase of the
automatic his public meeting with
two known enemies of tho Scotsman,
during which he had been Been to glvo
them money his target practice with
tho new revolver the unhappy chance
that had taken him out to Seven-Mile
Creek Camp the very day of the rob
beryhis casual questions of the min
ers even the finding of the body by
him. All of these dove-tnlled with
tho hypothesis that his partners In
crime were to escape and bear 'the
blame, while he was to bring the body
bnck to town and assume Innocence.
Paget was admitted to his cell Inter
In tho morning by Gopher Jones. He
shook hnnds with the prisoner. Jones
retired.
"Tough luck, Gordon," the engineer
said.
"What does Shcba think?"
"We hnven't told her you have been
arrested. I heard It only a llttlo while
ago."
"And Dlnne?"
"Yes, she knows."
"Well?" demanded Gordon brusque
ly. Peter looked at him In questioning
surprise. "Well, what?" He caught
the meaning of his friend. "Try not
to be an ass, Gordon. Of course she
knows the chnrge Is ridiculous."
Tho chip dropped from the young
rnnn's shoulder. "Good old Diane. I
might hnve known," ho said with n
new cheerfulness.
"I think you might have," agreed
Peter dryly. "By tho way, havo you
had any breakfast?"
"No. I'm hungry, come to think of
It."
"I'll havo something sent In from
the hotel."
"How's Mncdonnld?"
"He's nllve and while there's life
there Is hope."
"Any news of the murderers?"
asked Gordon.
"Posses are combing the hills for
them. They stole a pnekhorse from
a truck gardener up the valley. It
seems they bought an outfit for a
month yesterday said they were go
ing prospecting."
They talked for a few minutes long
er, mainly on the question of a lawyer
and the chances of getting out on bond.
Peter left the prisoner In very much
better spirits than he had found blm.
CHAPTER XV. -
"God 8ave You Kindly.
'A nurse from the hospital had re
lieved Diane and Sheba at daybreak.
They slept until the middle of the aft
ernoon, then under orders from the
doctor walked out to tako tho nlr. The
"Tough Luck, Gordon," the Engineer
Said.
fever of the patient was subsiding. He
slept a good deal, and In tho Intervals
between bad been onco or twice quite
rational.'
Tho thoughts of, tho cousins drew
their steps toward the Jail. Sheba
looked at Diane.
"Will thoy let us pass, do you
think?"
"Perhaps. We can try."
Gopher Jdhes was not proof against
tho brisk jconfldcnco with which Mrs.
Paget demanded admittance.
The prisoner was sitting on the bed.
His heart Jumped with gladness when
he looked up.
Diane shook hands cheerfully. "How
If tho crlmlnnl?"
"Better for hearing your kind voice,"
ho answered.
His eyes strayed to tho ebon-hatred
girl In the background. They met a
troubled smllo, grave and sweet
"Awfully good of you to come to
see me," ho told Sheba gratefully.
"How Is Macdonald?"
"Better, we hope. Ho knew Diane
this afternoon."
"We haven't talked to Mr. Macdon
ald yet about the attack on him." DI
f-a.1--
nno cxplninea. "Hut ii innst hure
recognized the men. There nro many
footprints nt the ford, showing how
they moved over tho ground ns they
fought. So he could not havo been
unconscious from the first blow."
"Unless they were masked ho must
have known them. It was light
enough," agreed Elliot.
"Peter Is still trying to get tho offi
cers to accept ball, but I don't think
ho will succeed. There Is a good deal
of feeling In town against you."
"Becnuso I am supposed to be an
enemy to nn open Alnsko, I Judge."
"Mainly that. Wally Selfrldge has
been talking a good deal. He takes It
for granted thnt you aro guilty. Woll
have to wait In pntience till Mr. Mac
donald speaks and clears you."
Gopher stuck his head In at the door.
"You'll hnvo to go, ladles. Tlmo's up."
When Shcba bado the prisoner good
by it was with a phraso of tho old
Irish vernacular. '.'God save you
kindly."
He knew the peasant's answer to th
wish and' gnvo It. "And you, too."
Tho girl left the prison with a mist
In her eyes. Her cousin looked at her
with a queer, ironic little smile of af
fection. To be In trouble wns n suro
passport to the sympathy of Shcba.
Now both her lovers were In u sad
way. Diane wondered which of them
would gain most from this new twist
of fate.
Sclfrldge hnd been shocked at the
sight of Macdonald. The terrible beat
ing and the loss of blood had sapped
all the splendid, vital strength of the
Scotsmnn. Ills bnttcrcd head was
swnthed In bnndnges, but the white
fnco wns bruised nnd disfigured. The
wounded mnn was weak as a kitten;
only the steady eyes told that he was
still strong and unconqucrcd.
"I want to talk buslneH for n min
ute, Miss Sedgwick. Will you plcnso
step out?" said Macdonald to bis
nurse.
She hesitated. "Tho doctor says"
"Do as I say, please."
The nurso left them nlone. Wnlly
told the story of the evidence against
Elliot In four sentences. His chief
caught the point nt once.
After Sclfrldge hnd gone, tho wound
ed mnn lay silent thinking out his pro
gram. Not for a moment did he doubt
thnt ho wns going to live, nnd his brain
was already busy planning for tho fu
ture. He know now thnt In tho vio
lence of his anger ngnlnst Elliot ho
had made a mistake. To have killed
his rival would have been fatal to the
Kamatlah coal claims, would havo
alienated his best friends, nnd would
have prejudiced hopelessly his chances
with Sheba. Fate had been kind to
him. He had been In tho wrong and It
had put him In tho right By the samo
cut of the cards young Elliot hnd been
thrust down from nn Impregnnble po
sition to one In which he was n dis
credited suspect With all this evi
dence to show thnt he hnd conspired
ngnlnst Macdonald, his report to the.
department would be labor lost
Diane came Into the sickroom strip
ping her gloves after the walk. Mac
donald smiled feebly at her and fired
tho first shot of his campaign to de
feat the enemy.
"Has Elliott been captured yet?" he
naked weakly.
Tho keen eyes of his hostess fas
tened upon him. "Captured I What
do you mean? It was Gordon Elliot
that brought you In nnd saved youi
life."
"Brought me from where?"
"From where he found you uncon
scious at tho ford."
"That's his story, la It?"
The young woman stood with her
gloves crushed tight in both bands. It
was her nature to bo always a parti
san. Without any reserve she was for
Gordon in this newB fight upon him.
What had Wally Selfrldgo been saying
to Macdonnld? Did the mine owner
menn to suggest thnt ho hnd identified
Elliot as one of his assailants? The
thing was preposterous.
And yet that was plainly what he
had meant to Imply. If he told such a
story, things would go hnrd with Gor
don. In court It would clinch tho enso
against him by supplying tho one miss
ing link in tho chain of circumstantial
evidence.
Dlnne, In deep thought frowned
down upon tho wounded mnn, who
seemed already to' hnvo fallen into a
light sleep. Sho told herself thnt this
wns some of Wnlly Selfridgo's devil
try. Anyhow, sho would talk It over
with Peter.
Tho reason Wnlly was so pleased
with himself was that he had dropped
a hint Into tho ear of tho wounded
mnn not to clear Elliot of complicity
In tho attack upon hint The news
that the special Investigator had been
arrested for robbery nnd attempted
murder, flashed all over tho United
States, would go far to neutralize any
report ho might make against tho va
lidity of the Macdonald claims. If to
this could bo added later reports of
an Indictment, a trial, and possibly a
conviction, It would not matter two
straws what Elliot said In his official
statement to tho land office.
Elliot breaks out of Jail long
enough to frustrate a plot engi.
neered by Wally Selfrldge.
Then he gets In Jail again. The
story of this exciting episode Is
told In the next Installment
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Reduces Golf Stick Supply.
Tho invention of a golf club with In
terchangeable heads permits all the
strokes to bo mado with ono stick with
out the necessity for carrying several.
Optlmlitlo Idea.
Nothing Is so uncertain as the minds
at the rabble.
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