Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-01-30
CHAPTER TX.
The Rah-Rah Boy Functions.

: stand the status Of the camp he had
joined. The word of old Holt alone
might be negligible, but supported by
that Of a disnterested party it would
be very different matter. Still, there
was no help for it. They would have
, to take care of the man until he was
able to travel. At the worst, Big Bill
could give him letter to Selfridge
explaining things and so pass the buck
to that gentleman.
Gid Holt had, with the tacit consent
Of his guards, appointed himself as a
sort Of nurse to the stranger. Early
in the evening the sick man fell into
a sound sleep, from which he did not
awake until morning. George was
away looking after the packhorses,
bud was cooking breakfast, and Big
Bill his rifle close at hand, was chop
ping young frs fifty feet back Of the
camp. The cook also had gun, load
ed with buckshot, lying on box be-
side him, so that they were taking no
chances with their prisoner.
The old miner turned from rearrang-
ing the boughs of green fir on the
smudge to see that his patient was
awake and his mind normal. The
quiet, steady eyes resting upon him
told him that the delirium had passed.
"Pretty nearly all in, wasn't II" the
young man said.
The answer of Gid Holt was an odd
one. "Yep. Seven-eleven-tiftee
Take FER easy, old man." he said in his
shrill, high voice as he moved toward
the man in the blankets. Then, in a
low tone, while he pretended to ar
range the bedding over the stranger,
he asked quick question.
"Are you Elliott"
EYES,"
"Don't tell them. Talk football
lingo as if you was still out of your
haid." Holt turned and called to Dud.
"Says he wants Some breakfast"
con the way" the cook answered.
Holt seemed to be soothing the de-
lirious man. What he really said was
this. "Selfridge has arranged plant
for you at Kamatlah. The camp has
been turned inside out to fool you.
They've brought me here a prisoner
so as to keep me from telling you the
truth. psf! Tune up now" ...
Big Bill had put down his ak and
was approaching. He was not ex.
actly suspicious, but he did not be-
neve in taking unnecessary chances.
II tell you I'm out Of training.
Played the last game, haven't we?
Come through with square meal. You
four-flusher," demanded Elliot in
querulous voice. He turned to Macy.
'Look here, Cap. Haven't played
the game all fall? Don't get what !
want now we're through"
The voice Of the young man was ex-
cited. His eyes had lost their quiet
steadiness and roved restlessly to and
fro. If Big Bill had held any doubts
one glance dissipated them.
"Sure you do. Hustle over and help
Dud with the breakfast, Holt. I'll look
out for our friend"
Elliot and Holt found no more
chance to talk together that morning.
Sometimes the young government Of
fetal lay staring straight in front Of
him. Sometimes he appeared to doze.
Again he would talk in the disj0inted
way of one not clear in the head.
An opportunity came in the after
noon for moment.
keep your eyes skinned for
chance to lay out the guard tonight
and get his gum" Holt said quickly.
Gordon nodded. IT don't know that
I've got to do everything just as you
say" he complained aloud for the
benefit Of George, who was passing
on his way to the place where the
horses were hobbled.
"Now-nowl There amt nobody
trying to boss you," Holt explained in
patient voice.
'They'd better not" snapped the in
valid.
"Some scrapper-that kid" said the
horse wrangler with a grin.
Macy took the first watch that
night. He turned in at two after he
had reused bud to take his place. The
cook had been on duty about an hour
when Elliot kicked Holt, who was
sleeping beside him, to make sure that
he was ready. The old man answered
the kick with another.
Presently Gordon got up, yawned
and strolled toward the edge Of the
camp.
"Don't 60 and get lost, young fell
low" cautioned bud.
Gordon, on his way back, passed be-
hind the guard, who was sitting tailor
fashion before smudge with muley
shotgun across his knees.
"This amt no country for checha-
koes to be wandering around without
keeper" the cook continued. ''Looks
like your folks would have better
sense than to let their rah-rah boy"
He got no farther. Elliot dropped to
one knee and his strong fingers closed
on the gullet of the man so tightly that
not even groan could escape him.
The old miner, waiting with every
muscle ready and every nerve under
tension, flung aside his blanket and
hurled himself at the guard. 1t took
him less time than it takes to tell to
wrest the gun from the cook.
He got to his feet just as Big Bill,
his eyes and brain still logged with