The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-04-04
CHAPTER vi.
WaIIy Gets Orders.

had come In jauntily, cigar In his
mouth. but Mt sight Of the grim face
Of his chief the grin fled.
"Come in and shut the door," ordered
the Scotsman. II. sent for you to con-
gratulate you. Wally. You did fine
work outside. You told me, didn't you.
that it was all settled at last-that our
claims are clear-listed for patent?"
The tubby little man felt the edge
Of irony in the quiet voice. "Sure.
That's what Winton told me-" he as
sented nervously.
"Then you'n be interested to know
that special agent of the land de-
partment sat opposite me last night
and without batting an eye came
across with the glad news that he was
here to investigate our claims"
Selfridge bounced up like a rubber
ball from the chair into which he had
Just settled. WHAT"
pleasant surprise, isn't 1t? I've
been wondering what you were doing
outside. OF course I know you had
to take in the shows and cabarets Of
New York. But couldn't you edge in
an hour or two once a week to attend
to business?"
Wally's collar began to choke him.
The cool. hard words pelted like hail.
Must be bluff. Mac The muckrake
magazines have raised such row
about the Guttenchild crowd putting
over big steal on the public that the
party leaders are scared stiff."
Il understand that, wally. What
don't get is how you came to let them
slip this over on you without even
a guess that 1t was going to happen"
That phase Of the subject Selfridge
did not want to discuss.
"Bet you hat I've guessed 1t right
just grand-stand play of the admin
istration to fool the dear people. This
fellow has got his orders 70 give us
clean bill Of health. Sure. That
must be It. I suppose it's this man
Elliot that came up on the boat
with u.s."
Yes
swell. that's easy. II he hasn't been
seen we can see him."
Macdonald looked his man Friday
over with a scarcely yelled contempt.
You've about as much vision as
breed trader. Unless I miss my guess.
Elliot isn't that kind. He'll go through
to a finish. II he sees straight we're
all right. but II he is a narrow conser-
walton fanatic he might 60 ahead and
queer the whole game"
You wouldn't stand for that" The
quick glance Of Selfridge asked a ques-
ton.
The lips Of the Scotsman were like
steel traps and his eyes points of steel.
Wen cross that bridge If we come to
1t. Our first move is to try to win him
to see this thing our way. I'll have a
casual talk with him before he leaves
for kamatlah and feel him out"
whats he doing here at ALI II
he's investigating the Kamatlah claims,
why does he go hundreds of miles out
OF his way to come in to Kusiak?"
asked Selfridge.
Macdonald smiled sardonically. "He's
doing this Job right. Elliot as good as
told me that he's on the Job to look up
my record thoroughly. So he comes to
Kusiak first. In few days he'll leave
for Kamatlah. That's where you come
In, Wally."
How do you mean7"
You're going to start for Kamatlah
tomorrow. You'll arrange the stage
before he gets there-see all the men
and the foremen. Line them up so
they'll come through with the proper
talk. If you have any doubts about
whether you can trust someone, don't
take any chances. Fire him out of the
camp. Offer Elliot the company hos
pitality. Load him down with favors.
Take him everywhere. Show him ev.
erything. But don't let him get any
proofs that the claims are being
worked under the same management"
"But he'll suspect it"
You can't help his suspicious. Don't
let him get proof. Cover all the tracks
that show company control"
II can fix that" he said. "But what
about Holt7 You know how bitter he
is-and crazy. He ought to be locked
away with the fiitter-mice."
you mustn't let Elliot meet Holt"
"How the deuce can help itf No
chance to keep them apart in that
little hole. 1t can't be done"
"Can't itf'
something In the quiet voice rang
bell Of alarm in the timid heart
of Selfridge.
"You mean"
"A man who works for me as nv
lieutenant must have nerve, Wally.
Have you got thatr VIII you take
orders and go through with themt"
Wally nodded. His lip1 were dry.
"Go to it What an I to dor