Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-05-10

animals he turned to Elliot.
II reckon we're ready"
Under orders from Elliot bud fixed
up the smudges and arranged the mos
quito netting over the bound men SO
as to give them all the protection pos
sible.
"We're going to take bud with us
for part Of the trip. Well send him
back to you later In the day. You'll
have to fast till he gets back. but out
side Of that you'll do very well II you
don't roll around trying to get loose.
Do that. and you'll jar loose the mos
quito netting. You know what that
MEANS" explained Gordon.
1T amt likely any grizzlies will
come pokin' their noses into camp. But
you never can tell. Any last words
you want sent to relativesr asked
Gideon Holt.
The last words they heard from Big
Bill as they moved down the draw
were sulphuric.
i was three O'Clock In the morning
by the watch when they started. About
nine they threw OF for breakfast. BY
this time they were Just across the
divide and were ready to take the
down trail.
II think we'll let bud 60 now" e.
liot told his partner In the adventure.
Better hold him till afternoon. Then
they can't possibly reach US till we
get to Kamatlah."
"What does 1t matter II they dot
We have both rifles and have left them
only one revolver. Besides, I don't
like to leave two bound men alone in
so wild a district for any great time.
No. we'll start bud on the back trail.
That grizzly you promised Big Bill
might really turn up"
The two men struck the headwaters
Of Wild Goose creek about noon and
followed the stream down. They trav-
eled steadily without haste. So long
as they kept good lookout there was
nothing to be feared from the men
they had left behind. They had both
long start and the advantage of
weapons.
If Elliot had advertised for q year
he could not have found a man who
knew more of Colby Macdonald's past
than Gideon Holt. The old man had
worked a claim on Frenchman creek
with him and had by sharp practice
so at least he had come to believe
been lawed out Of his rights by the
shrewd Scotsman. For seventeen years
he had nursed a grudge against Mac
donald, and he was never tired Of talk
ing about him. Oae story in particu-
lar interested Gordon.
There was Farrtll O'Neill. He was
a good fellow. Farrell was, but he had
Just one weakness There vas times
when he liked the 8pftle too well. He'd
let it alone for mYnths and then Just
lap the stuff up. 1t was the time of
the stampede to Bonanza creek. Well,
the news of the strike on Bonanza
reached Dawson and we all burnt ND
the trail to get to the new ground
first. O'Neill was one Of the first. He
got in about twenty below Discovery.
IL l remember. Mac wasn't in Dawson,
but he got there next mO'nin' and
heard the news. He lit out for Bo-
nanza pronto."
The old miner stopped, took a chew
of tobacco, and looked down into the
valley far below where Kamatlah
could Just be seen, a little huddle of
huts.
"Well?" asked Elliot. 1t was occa-
sionally necessary to prompt Holt
when he paused for his dramatic eff.
fects.
MAC drops in and joins O'Neill at
night. They knew each other, y un-
derstand, so o. course 1t was natural
Mac would put up at his camp. O'Neill
had a partner and they had located
together. Fellow named Strong"
mot Hanford Strong. little, heavy.
set man somewhere around f1fty?"
you've tagged the right man
Know him?"
1--WE met him."
"Well, never heard anything
against Han Strong. Anyway. he was
of that night packing grub up while
Farrell held down the claim. Mac had
jug of booze with him. He got Far.
rell tanked up. You know Mac-how
he can put 1t across when he's mind
to. He's a forceful devil, and he can
be a mighty likable one. But when he
Is friendliest you want to watch out
he don't slip an uppercut at you that'll
put you out Of biz. He done that to
Farrell-and done 1t a-plenty."
"HowT
"O'Neill got mellowed up till he
thought Mac was his best friend. BE
was ready to eat out Of his hand. Sc
Mac works him up to sign contract
before witnesses too; trust Mac fol
that-exchanging his half interest In
the claim for five hundred dollars In
cash and Macs no-'count lease or
Frenchman creek. Inside Of a week
Mac and Strong struck a big pay
streak. They took over two hundred
thousand from the spring cleanup
1T was nothing better than rob-
berry"
Call 1t what you want to. Anyhow
1t stuck. O'Neill kicked. and that's all
the good it did him. He consulted law.
yers at Dawson. Finally he got SC
discouraged that he plumb went to
pieces-got on long bat and stayed
there till his money ran out. Then
one bitter night he starts up to Bo.
nanza to have 1t out with Mac. The