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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1918)
t RED OLOUp, NEBRASKA, CHIEF . I ft. ? I H w 5 i if MPinMp"lMgCTTlMro ujjMirawwajSWWBWWBSJIjSMWSlWWWMSSfPSpipSWSM YUKON TPAJL WILLIAM MacLEOD RAINB . -J Copjrrleht, 1807, by William MacLod Rains. CHAPTER XVI. Gordon Spends a Busy Evening Pngct smoked placidly, but tbo heart within him was troubled. It looked an if Solfrldgo had mado up his mind to frnrao Gordon for a prison sentence. Tho worst of It was tbat ho need not invent any ovldonco or tako any chances. If Macdonald camo through on tho stand with nn Identification of Billot ns ono of his assailants, tho young man would go down tho river to servo time. There wns enough cor roboratlvo testimony to convict St. Peter himself. 'Tm Just telling yon what ho said," Dlnno explained. "And It worried me. His smllo was cynical. I couldn't help thinking that If ho wants to get even with Gordon" Mrs. Paget stopped. Tho maid had Just brought Into .tho room a visitor. DIano moved forward and shook hands with him". "How do you do, Mr. Strong? Tako tills big chair." Hanford Strong accepted tho chair and a cigar, no camo promptly to tho object of his call. "I don't know whether this Is where X should have como or not Aro you folks for young Billot or aro yon for Selfrldgo?" ho demanded. "If yon put It that way, we're for El liot," smiled Peter. "All right Let mo put It another way. You work for Mac. Aro you on hla sldo or on Elliot's in this matter of tho coal claims?" Diane looked at Peter. Ho took his time to answer. "We hope the coal claimants will win, but wo'vo got senso enough to see that Gordon is in hero to report the facts. That's what ho is paid for. Hell tell tho truth as ho sees it It his superior officers dccldo on thoso facts against Macdonald, I don't see that Billot la to blame." "That's how it looks to mo," agrce1 Strong. 'Tm for a wide-open Alaska, bat that don't make It right to put this yonng fellow through for a crime he didn't do. Fact is, I like him. He's square. So rve come to tell you some thing." He smoked for a minute silently be fore he continued. Tve got no evidence ,ln his favor, but X bumped into something a Httlo while ago that didn't look good to me. Ton know I room next him at? the ho tel. I heard a noise in his room, and X thought that was funny, seeing as ho was locked up in Jail. So I kinder listened and heard whispers and the sound of some one moving about. Thereto a door between his room and mlno tbat la kept locked. I looked through the keyhole, and In Elliot's room there was Wally Solfrldgo and another man. They were looking through papers at the desk. Wally pnt a stack of them in his pocket and they went out, locking tho door behind them." "They had no business doing that," bnrst out Diane. "Wally Sclfrldge isn't an officer of the law." Strong nodded dryly to her. "Just What I thought So I followed them. They went to Macdonald's offices. Af ter a whllo Wally camo out and left tho other man there. Then presently the lights went out. The man is camped there for the night Will you tell mo why?" "Why?" repeated Diane with her sharp eyes on tho miner. "Because Wally has somo papers there he don't want to get away from him." "Some of Gordon's papers, of course." "You've said it" "All his notes and evidence in the case of tho coal claims, probably," con tributed Peter. "Maybe. Wally has stolen them, but he hasn't nerve enough to burn them till he gets orders from Mac. So he's holding them safo at tho office," guessed Strong. "It's an outrage." "Surest thing yon know. Wally has fixed it to frame him for prison and to play safe about his evidence on tho coal claims." "What are you going to do about It?" Diane asked her husband sharply7. Peter rose. "First I'm going to see Gordon and hear what ho has to say. Come on, Strong. Wo may bo gono ( quite a whllo, Diane. Don't wait up 'for me if you get through your stint of nursing." Gopher, Jones let them Into tho ram shackle building that served as a Jail, and after three dollars had Jingled In the palm of his hand ho stepped out side and left tho men nlono with his prisoner. Tho thrco put their heads together and whispered. "I'll meet you outsldo tho houso of Selfrldgo In half an hour, Strong," was the last thing that Gordon said before Jones camo back to order out tho vis itors. As soon as tho placo was dark again, Gordon sot to work on tho flimsy framework of his cell window. Ho know.nlreddy It was so decrepit that the could escape auy tlnio bo desired. but until now there had been no rea son why he should. Within a quarter of an hour ho lifted tho iron-grilled sash bodily from the framo and crawled through tho window. no found Puget and Strong waiting for him in tho shadows of a plno out sldo the yard of Selfrldgc. 'To begin with, you walk straight homo nnd go to bed, Peter," tho yonng man announced. "You'ro not In this. You'ro not Invited to our party. I don't have to tell you why, do I?" Tho engineer understood tho reason. Ho was nn cmployco of Macdonald, a man thoroughly trusted by him. Even though Gordon Intended only to right a wrong, It wns better that Paget should not bo a party to It Reluctant ly Peter went home. Gordon turned to Strong. "I owe you n lot already. There's no need for you to run a risk of getting into trou bio for me. If things break right, I can do what I have to do without help." "And if they don't?" Strong waved an Impatient hand. "Cut It out, Elliot I'vo taken n fancy to go through with this. I never did llko Selfrldgo any how, nnd I ain't got a wlfo nnd I don't work for Mac. Why shouldn't I have somo fun?" Gordon shrugged his shoulders. "All right Might as well play ball and got things moving, then." Tho little miner knocked at .tho door. Wally himself opened. Elliot, from tho shelter of tho pine, saw tho two men In talk. Selfrldgo shut tho door nnd camo to tho edgo of tho porch. Ho gavo n gasp end his hnnds went trem bling Into tho air. Tho six-gun of the miner had been pressed "hard against his fat paunch. Under curt orders he moved down tho steps and out of tho yard to the tree. At sight of Gordon the eyes of Wally stood out in amazement. Little sweat beads'burst out on his forehead, 'for be remembered how buBy he had been collecting evidence against this man. "W-w-what do you want?" he asked. fftAfr Vnni Vavfl wltt wnnVt "Y-yes." "Come with us." Wally breathed more freely. For tc moment he had thought this man had come to toko vengeance on him. They led him by alleys and back streets to the office of the Macdonald Yukon Trading company. Under or ders he knocked on the door and called out who ho was. Gordon crouched closo, to the log wall, Strong behind him. "Let me in, Olson," ordered Bel fridge. Tho door opened, and a man stood on tho threshold. Elliot was on top of him llko n panther. Tho man went Wat on Top of Him Like a Panther. down as though his knpes wero oiled hinges. Before ho could gather his slow wits, tho barrel of a revolver was shoved against his teeth. Tnko it easy, Olson," advised Gor don. "Get up slowly. Now, step back Into tho office. Keep your hands up." Strong closed and locked tho door behind them. "I want my papers, Selfrldge. Dig up your keys and get them for mo," Elliot commanded. Wally did not need any keys. He know tho combination of tho safo and opened It From an inner drawer ho drew a bunch of papers. Gordon looked them over cnrcfully. Strong sat on a tablo and toyed with n revolver which he Jammed playfully into tho stomach of his fat prisoner. "All hero," nnnounced tho field agent. Tho sufe-robbers locked their prison ers In tho ofllco and disappeared Into tho night They stopped at tho houso of tho collector of customs, a genial , zTBni rvp zpjsJimr Urn rf3 r young fellow with whom Billot bad' played tennis a good deal, and left the papers In his hands for safe-keeping. After which they returned to tne notei and reached Uto second floor by way of tho back stairs used by tho serv ants. Hero they parted, each going to his own room. Gordon slept llko n school boy nnd woko only when tho sun poured through tho window upon his bed In n broad ribbon of warm gold. IIo got up, bathed, dressed, and went down Into tho hotel, dining room. Tho waiters looked at him In amaze ment Gordon nto as If nothing wcro tho matter, apparently unaware of tho excitement ho was causing. Ho paid not tho least attention to tho nudging and tho whispering. After ho had fin ished breakfast, ho lit a cigar, leaned back In his chair, nnd smoked placidly. Presently an eruption of men poured into tho room. At the head of them was Gopher Jones. Near tho rear Wal ly Selfrldgo lingered modestly. He was not looking for hazardous adven ture. "Whad you doing here?" demanded Gopher, bristling up to Elliot Tho young man watched a smoke wreath float celllngwnrd before he turned his mild gazo on tho chief of police. "I'm smoking." "Don't you know wo Just got In from hunting you two posses of us been out all night?" Gopher glared savage ly at tho smoker. Gordon looked distressed. "That's too bad. There's a telephone In my room, too. why didn't you call up? I'vo been there nil night" "Tho dcuco you have," exploded Jones. "And us combing tho hills for you. Young man, you're mighty smart. But I want to tell you that you'll pay for this." "Did you want mo for anything in particular or Just to get up a poker game?" asked Elliot suavely. Tho leader of tho posse gavo him self to a Job of scientific profanity. Ho was spurred on to outdo himself be cause ho had heard a titter or two be hind him. When hp had finished, ho formed a procession. He. with Elliot handcuffed beside him. wns at tho head of It It marched to the JolL CHAPTER XVII. 8heba Does Not Think Go. Tho fingers of Sheba wcro busv with tho embroidery upon which she worked, nut her thoughts wcro full of the innn who lay aslccD on tho lounire. His strong body lay at case, relaxed. Already health was flowing bnck Into his veins. Beneath tho tan of the thin, muscular cheeks a warmer color was beginning to creep. Soon he would be about again, vigorous and forceful, striding over obstacles to the coal he had set himself. Sheba had sent him a check for the amount he had paid her and had re fused to see htm or anybody else. Shamed and humiliated, she had kept to her room. The check had come back to her by mall. Across the face of It he had written in his strong handwriting: "I don't welsh on my bets. You can't give to me what is not mlno. "Do not think for an Instant that I shall not marry you." She moved to adjust a window blind and when she returned found that his steady eyes were fixed upon her. "You're getting better fast," she said. "Yes." Tho girl had a fnvor to ask of him and lest her courage fail she plunged Into it "Mr. Macdonald, if you say the word Mr. Elliot will be released on ball. X am thinking you will be so good as to say it" His narrowed eyes held a cold glit ter. "Why?" "You must know ho is Innocent You must" ' "I know only what the evidence shows," ho cut In, warily on his guard. uo may or may not have been one of my attackers. From tho first blow I was dazed. But everything points to it that he hired" "Oh, nol" Interrupted the Irish girl, her dark eyes shining softly. "Tho way of it is that ho saved your life, that he fought for you, nnd that ho is In prison becauso of It." "If that Is true, why doesn't he bring somo proof of It?" "Proof I" she cried scornfully. "Be tween friends " "Ho's no friend of mine. Tho man Is a meddler. I despise him." Tho scarlet flooded her cheeks. "And I am liking him very, very much," sho flung back stanchly. Macdonald looked up at tho vivid, flushed faco and found it wholly charming. Ho liked her nono tho less becauso her lino eyes wero hot and defiant in behalf of hla rival. "Very well," ho smiled. 'Til got him out if you'll do mo a good turn," "Thank you. It's a bargain." "Then sing to me." "What shall I sing?" "Sing 'Divided.' " Tho long lashes veiled her soft eves whllo sho considered. In a way he bad tricked her into singing for him a love-song sho did not want to sing. But sho mado no protest. Swiftly sho turned and slid along tho bench. Her lingers touched tho keys and sho be gan. Hiioua paid her nlodco In full. After tho first two stanzas wero finished sho sang tho last ones as well : An' what about the wather when I'd bavo ould Paddy's boat, la It mo that would be afeard to grip tho uuro an- so UfloaiT Oh, I could Hna him by tho light of Bun or moon or star: But there's cauldor things than Halt waves between us, so they aro. Och aneel Sure well I know heart to come he'll never to mo. have the air lore ! wild as any wars that wan tfers on tho sea, Tte the eamo If ho ta near me, 'Us the same If he is far: Hla thought are hard an' ever hard be tween u, so they are. Och aneel Her hands dropped from tho keys nnd sho turned slowly on tho end of tho sent The dark lashes fell to her f -nv 2BqJ) 1 sssPj I jw vJcT M "I'm Going to Marry You, Sheba." hot checks. Ho did not speak, but she felt tho steady Insistence of his gaze. In self-defense she looked nt him. Tho pallor of his faco lent accent to the flro that smoldered In his eyes. "I'm going to mnrry yon, Sheba. Make up your mind to that girl," he said harshly. There was Infinite pity In the look sho gavo him. " 'There's cauldcr things than salt waves botween us, so they are,' " sho quoted. "Not If I love you nnd you love me. By the Lord, I trample down every thing that comes between us." Sho knew tho tremendous driving power of tho man nnd sho was afraid In her heart that ho would sweep her from the moorings to which Bho clung. "There Is something else I hnven't told you." Tho embarrassed lashes lifted bravely from tho flushed cheeks to meet steadily his look. "I don't think that I care for you. 'TIs I that am shamed at my fickleness. But I don't not with tho full of my henrt" His bold, possessive eyes yielded no fraction of all they claimed. "Time enough for that Sheba. Truth is that you're afraid to let yourself love me. You're worried because you can't measure me by the little two-by-four foot-rule you brought from Ireland with you." Sheba nodded her dusky little head In naive candor. "I think there will be some truth In that, Mr. Macdonald. You're lawless, you know." Tm a law to myself, if that's what you' mean. It is my business to help hammer out an empire In this North land. No.need for me to brag. What I have done speaks for me as a guide post to what I mean to do." "I know," the girl admitted with the Impetuous generosity of her race. "I hear it from everybody. You have built towns and railroads and devel oped mines nnd carried the twentieth century Into new outposts. You have given work to thousands. But you go so fast I can't keep step with you. I am one of tho little folks for whom laws were made." "Then Til make a new code for you," he said, smiling. "Just do ns I sny and everything will come out right" Faintly her smllo met his. "My grandmotheB might havo agreed to that But we live In a new world for women. Thoy have to make their own decisions. I suppose that Is a part of tho penalty wo pay for freedom." DIano came Into the room and Mac donald turned to her. "I have Just been telling Sheba that I am going to marry her that there Is no escape for her. Sho had better get used to the Idea that I Intend to make her happy." Tho older cousin glanced at Sheba nnd laughed with a touch of embar rassment "Whether sho wants to bo happy or not O Cave Man?" Tin going to make her want to." Sheba fled, but from the door sho flung back her challenge. "I don't think bo." . Macdonald kept his word to Sheba. Ho used his Influence to get Elliot to leased, nnd with a touch of cynicism quite characteristic went on the bond of his rival. An Information was filed against tho field agent of tho land de partment for highway robbery and at tempted murder, but Gordon went about his business Just as If ho wero not under n cloud. Nono tho less, ho walked tho streets a marked roan. Women and children looked at lilm curiously and whis pered ns ho passed. Tho sullen, hos tile eyes of miners measured him si lently. In tho states the fight botween thg coal claimants and their foes wns growing more bitter. Tho muckrakcrs wcro busy, and the sentiment outsldo had settled so definitely against grant ing tho patents that tho national ad ministration might nt any tlmo Jettison Mncdonald and his backers us a sop to public opinion. It was not bard for Gordon to guess how unpopular ho was, but ho did not let this Interfere with his activities. He moved to and fro nmong tho mining camps with absolute disregard of the growing hatred against him. Pngct cnino to him nt last with a turning. "What's that I hear about you being almost killed up on Bonanza?" Peter wanted to know. "Down in tho Nono Such mine, you mean? It did seem to bo raining hammers as I went down tho shaft," admitted his friend. "Were tho hammers dropped on pur pose?" Gordon looked nt him with a grim smile. "Your guess Is Just as good ns mine, Peter. What do you thluk?" Peter answered seriously. "I think It Isn't snfo for you to tnko the chances you do, Gordon. I find n wrong Im pression about you prevalent nmong tho men. They arc blaming you for stirring up nil this trouble on tho out side, and they are worried for fear tho mines may closo nnd they will loso their Jobs. I tell you that they aro In a dangerous mood." "Sorry, but I can't help thnt." "You can stay around town and not go out nlono nights." "I dare say I can, but I'm not going to." "I think you had better uso n little sense, Gordon. I dure sny I-am exag gerating tho danger. But when you go around with that Jaunty devil-may-care way of yours, tho men think you nro looking for trouble and ' you'ro likely to get It" "Am I?" "I know what I'm talking about Nino out of ten of the men think you tried to murder Ma'cdonnld after you had robbed him nnd thnt your ncrvo weakened on tho Job. This seems to somo of the most lawless to glvo them n moral right to put you out of the way. Anyhow, It Is n kind of Justifica tion, according to-their point of view. I'm not defending It, of course. I'm telling you so that you can appreciate your danger." "You havo done your duty, then, Peter." "But you don't Intend to take my ad vice?" "I'll tell you what I told you last tlmo when you warned me. I'm going through with tho Job I've been hired to do, just as you would stick It out In my place. I don't think I'm In much danger. Men In general are law-abiding. They growl, but they don't go as far as murder." Peter gavo him up. The next Issuo of tho Kuslnk Sun contained a bitter editorial attack upon Elliot. Tho occasion for It was n press dlspntch from Washington to the"" effect that tho pressure of public opin ion had become so strong that Win ton, commissioner of the general land office, might bo forced to resign his place. This was n blow to the coal claimants, nnd the Sun charged In vitriolic language that the reports of Elliot wero to blame. Ho was, tbo newspaper claimed, nn enemy to all those who had come to Alaska to earn an honest living there. He was a snake In the grass, and as such every decent man ought to hold him In scorn. Elliot read this Just as ho was leav ing for tho Willow Creek camp. He thrnst tho paper Impatiently Into his coat pocket and swung to the saddle. Why did they persecute him? He had told nothing but the truth, nothing not required of him by the simplest, ele mental honesty. Yet he was treated as an outcast and a criminal. The In justice of it was beginning to rankle. He was temperamentally an opti mist, but depression rodo with him to the gold camp and did not lift from his spirits till he started back next day for Kuslak. Tho news had been flashed by wire all over the United States that he was a crook. His friends and relatives could give no adequate answer to the fact tbat an Indictment hung over his head. In Alaska he was already con victed by public opinion. In the late afternoon, while Gordon was still fifteen miles from Kuslnk, his horse fell lame. He led It limping to the cabin of some miners. There wcro thrcrAf them, nnd they bad been drinking heavily from a Jug of whisky left earlier In tho day by the stage-driver. Gordon was In two minds whether to accept their surly permission to stay for the night, but the lameness 'of his horse decided him. Not caring to Invite their hostility, he gave his namo as Gordon Instead of Elliot He was to learn within the hour that this was mistake number two. From a pocket of tho coat he had thrown on a bed protruded the news paper Gordon had brought from Ku slak. One of tho men, n big red-head ed fellow, pulled it out and began sulk ily to rend. Whllo he read the other two bick ered and drank nnd snarled at each other. All three of tho men were in that stago of drunkenness when a quarrel Is likely to flare up at a mo' ment's notice. "Listen here," demnnded tho mnn with the newspaper. "Tell you what, boys, I'm going to wring tho neck of that pussyfooting spy Elliot If I ever get a chanct" no rend aloud tho editorial In tho Sun. After he bad finished, the oth ers joined him In n chorus of curses. "I always did hate n spy and this one's a murderer too. Why don't somo one fill his hide with lead?" one of tho men wanted to know. Bedhead was sitting at the table. Ho thumped a heavy list so hard that tho tin cups jumped. "Glmmo n crack at him and I'll show you I" A shadow fell across the room. In tho doorway stood u newcomer. Gor don had n sensation as if a lump of Ico had been drawn down his spine. For tho man who had just come In was Big Bill Macy, and ho was looking at the field agent with eyes In which amaze ment, anger nnd triumph blazed. "I'm glad to death to meet up with you again, Mr. Elliot," ho jeered. "Seems llko old times on Wild-Goose." "What you say his nnnio Is?" cut in tho man with tho newspaper. ihiBn't ho Introduced himself, bojs?" Macy answered with a cruel grin. Now, nln't thnt modest of him? You lads nre cntcrtnlntng that well known dctcckatlvo and spy, Gordon Elliot, that renowned king of hold ups" Tho red-headed man Interrupted with n howl of rage. "If you'ro telling It strnlght, Bill Macy, I'll learn him to spy on me." Elliot wns sitting on ono of the beds. no had not moved an Inch since Macy had appeared, but the brain behind his llvo eyes wns taking stock of tho situ ntlon. Big BUI blocked tho doorway. Tho tablo was In front of tho window. Unless ho could fight his way out, there was no cscapo for him. Ho was trapped. Quietly Gordon looked from one to another. "I'm not spying on you. My horso J is lame. You can seo that for your self. All I asked was a night's lodg ing." "Under another namo than your own, you cussed sneak." j Tho field agent did not understand j tho fury of tho mnn, because he did j not know thnt theso miners wero work- Ing tho claim under a defective tltlo ) and that they had jumped to tho con- '' elusion thnt ho had como to get evl- j denco against them. But ho knew that ' never In his life had he been in n tight- I er hole. In another minute they would" nttnek him. Whether It would run ! to murder ho could not tell. At tho best ho would be hammered helpless. But no evidence of this knowledge j appeared In his manner. j?i ' "I didn't give my Inst name becauso there Is n prejudice ngalnst mo In thin country," he explained in an even voice. He wondered ns he spoke If ho had better try to fling himself through tho window sash. There might bo a re mote chance that he could mako it The miner nt the tablo killed this possibility by rising and standing squarely In tho rond. "Look out I He's got a gat," warned Macy. Gordon fervently wished he had. But he wns unnrmed. . While his eyes quested for a weapon he played for time. "You can't get nwny with this, yon know. Tho United "States government Is back of me. It's known I left the Willow Creek camp. I'll bo traced here." Through Gordon's mind thero flashed n word of advice once given him by n professional prizefighter: "If you get In a rough house, don't wait for the other fellow to hit first" They were crouching for tho attack. In another moment they would bo upon him. Almost with ono motion ho stooped, snatched up by the leg a heavy stool, and sprang to the bed upon which he had been sitting. The four men closed with him in a rush. They came at him low, their heads protected by uplifted arms. His memory brought to him a picture of tho whitewashed gridiron of a football field, and in it he saw a vision of, safety. The stool crashed down upon Big BUI Macy's head. Gordon hurdled the crumpling figure, plunged between Plunged Between Hands Outstretched to Seize Him. ' hands outstretched to seize him, and over tho tablo went through tho win dow, taking tho flimsy sash with him. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Building a Trench. Trenches on the western front ap pear to the civilian eyo which is fixed upon photographs to be Just a ditch backed by dugouts. In reality, details a trench correspondent, an enormous amount of work and scientific study is required for tho establishment of a completo winter trench. For every mile a trench over 0,000, 000 snnd bags aro needed. Ono man can fill a bag with earth nnd lift It to placo 25 times in n night, when all ths work of repairing trenches is dona It would tako a battalion eight months to do this work. A mile of trench and its concomi tant protection demands 12,000 six-foot stakes, 12,000 small pickets, 0,250,000 sandbags, weighing 1,000 tons In all; 80,000 feet of corrugated Iron, 1425.00C feet of timber, etc. Smokeless Powder. Tho advantages of smokeless pow dur, besides Its virtue of high cxplo slvcness, aro two-fold. It does not crcato n smoko cloud that betrays tho location of tho gun or gunners, and at tho samo tlmo tho man behind tho gun is not confused for n second by a pall of smoko that obscures tho range of vision In tho direction ot tha enemy. Ti T I k v i Y,y. ..x. WriA-lMnVWtUHlWMlY '''''' " tL,J''lW1lii.ni.l.lWil irsrsrttiTrwfef