davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15
CHAPTER vUI-Contlnued.

A man staggered drunkenly into
view. He reeled halfway across the
mouth of tho draw and stopped. His
eyes, Quesung DULY. fell upon the
camp. He stared, as IL doubtful
whether they had played him false,
then lurched toward the waiting group.
Lost and all in" Holwny said In a
whisper to bud.
The other man nodded. Neither Of
them made a nov toward the
stranger, who stopped In front OF their
camp and looked with glazed eyes
from one to another. His face was
drawn and 'haggard and lined. Ex-
trems exhaustion showed In every
movement He babbled lncoherently.
Don't you see he's starving and out
of his hsadr snapped Holt b%rusquely.
"Get him grub. pronto."
The old man rose and moved toward
the suffering man. "Come, pard. Tha's
all right. Sit down right here and
90 to II. a. the old sayin' is." He led
the man to q place beside Big Bill
and made him sit down. 'Better light
q IRE. boys. and get ZONE coffee on.
Den't give him too much solid grub
at first"
The famishsd man ate what was
given him and clamored for more.
"Coming up soon. pardner," Holt
cold him soothingly. "Now tell us
now come you to get lost"
The man nodded gravely. "Hit that
line low. Cord. Hit 'er low. Only
three yards to gain"
"Plumb bughouse.s commented bud,
chewing tobacco stolidly.
"Out Of his head-thats all. He'll
Do right enough after he's fed up and
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15

seems TO me I had heard-somewherO
that he was away. Seems to me I
heard he went prospecting"
"He did. Up Wild Goose creek,
with Big Bill Macy and two other men.
But I asked him to come back with
me-and he did"
Feebly wally CROPPED for the clue
without finding 1t. Had Big Bill sold
him out7 And how had Elliot got into
touch with himf
"Just SO, Mr.. Elliot. But really, you
know, Rowland can make you q great
deal more comfortable than Holt. His
wife - a famous cook. I'll have .
man 90 get your traps"
ITS very good Of you. but I think
I won't move"
"Oh. but you must. Hollis nutty-
nobody at home, you know. Every
body knows that"
"Is he7 The old man struck me a.
being remarkably clear-headed. BY
the way. I want to thank you for send.
ing a relief party put to ind me, Mr..
Selfridge. Except for your help I
would have died In the hills"
This was another facer for Wally.
What the devil did the fellow meant
The deuce of II was that he knew all
the facts anc wally did not. One
thing stood oue to Seifridge like a sore
thumb. His plans had come tumbling
down like a house Of cards. Either
Big Bill had Numbered amazingly. or
he had played %traitc?. In either case
Willy could guess pretty shrewdly
whose hide Macdonald would tan for
the failure. The chief wanted resulta
He did not ask Of his su~bordinates how
they got them. And this was the sec
ond time In succession that Selfridgs
had come TO grief.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15
His Strong Fingers Closed on the oui.
let Of the Man.
fashion before a smudge with q muley
shotgun across his knees.
H>AAA>

fashion before n smudge with q muley
shotgun across his knees.
This amt no country for chechn.
koes to be wandering around without
n keeper" the cook continued. "Looks
like your folks would have better
sense than to let their rnh-rah boy
lie got no farther. Elliot dropped to
one knee and his strong fingers closed
On the gullet of the man so tightly that
not even n 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. II took
him less time than It takes to tell to
wrcst the gun from the cook.
He got to his feet just as Big Bill.
his eyes and brain still logged with
sleep, sat UP and began to take notice
Of the disturbance.
"Don't move" warned Holt sharply.
Better throw your hands up. No
monkey business. do you hear? I'd as
lief blow n hole through you as not
Big Bill turned bitterly to Elliot.
80 you were taking all the time,
young fellow. We save your life and
| you round on US. You're n pretty slick
proposition as n double-crosser."
"And that amt ALL" chlrped up Holt
| bllthely. Let me Introduce our friend
to you, Mr., Big BlIl Macy. This is
Gordon Elliot, the land agent ap-
pointed to look over the Kamatlah
claims. Selfridge gave you lads this
p~enltentlary job so as | wouldn't meet
| Elliot when he reached the ramp. II
about It., our young friend would have
died here on the divide. But Mr.. Self
ridge kindly outitted n party and sent
us a hundred miles into the hills TO
rescue the perlshing. as the old sayin'
goes. Consequence Is, Elliot and me
meet up and have that nice coniden-
tial talk after all. The ways Of Prov.
idence Is strange, rs you might say,
Mr.. Macy"
"Your trick" conceded Big Bill sui
lenly. "Now what are you going to
do with usr"
"Not n thing-going to leave you
right here to prospect Wild Goose
creek" answered Holt blandly. Dur
den says there's gold up here-heaps
Of It."
Bill Macy condemned burden In Ian
guage profane and energetic. He
didn't stop at burden. Holt came In
for . share OF It. also Elliot and Self.
edge.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15
CHAPTER x.
Gordon invites Himself 10 Dinner
and Does Not Enjoy II.

Gordon invites Himself to Dinner
and Does Not Enjoy II.
Big Bill and his companions reached
Kamstlah early next day. They re-
ported at once to Selfridge. 1t had
been the intention OF Wally to vent
upon them the bad temper that had
been gathering ever since his talk with
Elliot. But his FIRST sarcastic Ques-
ton drew such a snarl Of anger that
he reconsidered. The men were both
sullen and furious.
The little man became alarmed. In
stead of reproaches he gave them soft
words and promises. The company
would see them through. II would pro
tect them against criminal procedure.
But above all they must stand pat In
denial. A conviction would be impos-
sible even II the states attorney filed
an indictment against them. Mean
while they would remain on the com-
pany pay roll.
Gordon Elliot was q trained invest.
gator. Even without Holt at his side
he would probably have unearthed the
truth about the Kamstlah situation.
But with the little miner by his side
to tell him the facts, he found his task
an easy one.
Selfridge followed orders and let
him talk with the men freely. All Of
them had been drilled till they knew
their story like parrots. They were
suspicious of the approaches Of m
liot, but they had been warned that
they must appear to talk candidly.
The result was that some talked too
much and some not enough. They let
slip admissions under skillful exami-
nation that could be explained on no
other basis than that Of company
ownership.
Both Selfsldge and Rowland outdid
themselves in efforts to establish close
social relations. Bnt Gordon was care
full to put himself under no obligations.
Within two weeks Elliot had I'm,
ished his work Mt Kamatlah.
ION for Kusiak tomorrow" he told
Holt that night.
The old miner went with him as a
guide to the big bend. Gordon had
no desire to attempt again Fifty Mile
swamp without the help Of someone
who knew every foot OF the trail. With
Holt to show the way the swamp be-
came merely a hard, gruellng mush
through boggy lowlands.
Weary with the trail, they reached
the river ut the end Of a long day.
An Indian village lay sprawled along
the bank, and through this the two
men trnmped to the roadhouse where
they were to put up for the night.
Holt called TO the younger man, who
was at the time In the lead.
wait a minute. Elliot"
Gordon turned. The old Alaskan
was Offering a quarter to n little half.
naked Indian boy. shyly the four
yenr-old came forward, q step at q
time, his finger In his mouth.
whats your name, kidT" Holt
flashed a look at Elliot that warned
him to pay attention.
"Colmac," the boy answered bash
fully.
His fist closed on the quarter, he
turned, and like n startled caribou he
fed to a comely young Indian woman
standing near the trail.
With cleaning eyes Holt turned TO
Elliot. take Q good look at the
squaw," he said In q low voice.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15
CHAPTER TX.
The Rah-Rah Boy Functions.

The Rah-Rah Boy Functions.
Big Bill grumbled a good deal ut the
addition to the party. 1t would be de.
cidedly awkward II this stranger
should become rational and under
stand the status OF the camp he had
Joined. The word Of old Holt alone
might be negligible, but supported by
that OF a disinterested party II would
be a very different matter. Still. there
wal no help for It. They would have
to take are Of the man until he was
able to travel. At the worst. Big Bill
could give him q 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 ms n
sort Of nurse to the stranger. Early
In tLa evening the sick man fell into
q 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 Mt hand, was chop
ping young frs fifty feet back Of the
camp. The cook also had a gun, load.
ed with buckshOt, lying on n 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 fr 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 dellrIum 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-ffteen.
Take 'er easy, old man." he said in his
shrill. high voice rs he moved toward
the man In the blankets. Then. In n
low tone, while he pretended ID mr..
range the bedding over the stranger,
he asked a quick question.
"Are you Elliott"
eyes"
"Don't tell them. Talk football
lingo as II you vas stIll out OF your
haid." Holt turned and called to bud.
"Says he wants some breakfast"
"On the way" the cook answered.
IlOit SttlAlth " Dt EVblUiUE IIlH Ur-
llrlous man. What he really said was
this. "Selfrldge has arranged n plant
for you ut Kamatlah. The camp has
been turned inside out to fool you.
They've brought me here n prisoner
so as to keep me from telling you the
truth. Pstl Tune up now"
Big BIZ had put down his ax and
was approaching. lie was not ex-
nctly suspicious, but he did not be-
lieve In taking unnecessary chances.
~ tell you I'm out Of training.
Played the last game, haven't ve1
Come through with u square meal, you
four-fusher," demanded Elliot In a
querulous voice. He turned TO Macy.
look here, Cap. Haven't / played
the game all fall2 Don't I get what I
want now we're throughf
The voice Of the young man was ex-
cited. His eyes had lost their quiet
steadiness and roved restlessly to and
fro. II Big Bill had held any doubts
n glance dissipated them.
"Sure you do. Hustle over and help
bud with the breakfast. Holt. I'll look
out for our friend"
Elliot and Holt found no more
chance to talk together that morning.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15

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, u little. heavy
set man somewhere around ffty3"
you've tagged the right man.
Know himf
1--WE met him."
"Well. I never heard anything
against Han Strong. Anyway, he was
on that night packing grub up while
Farrell held down the claim. Mac had
n jug OF booze with him. lie got Far
rell tanked up. You know Mac--bow
he can put II across when he's a mind
to. He's n forceful devil, and he can
be n mighty likable one. But when he
Is f~rlendliest you want to watch out
he don't slip an uppercut ut you thatll
put you out of biz. He done that to
Farreli-and done II a-plenty."
"Iow?"
"ONeill got mellowed up till he
thought Mac was his best friend. He
was ready to eat out OF his hand. So
Mac works him up TO sign n contract
before witnesses too; trust Mac for
tllat-exchangIng his half interest In
the claim for five hundred dollars In
cash and Macs no-'count lease on
Frcnchman creek. Inside OF n week
II and Strong struck n big pay
streak. They took over two hundred
thousand from the spring cleanup
at was nothing better than rob-
berry"
Call II what you want to. Anyhow
II stuck. O'Nelll kicked, and that's all
the good II did him. lie consulted law
yers Mt Dawson. Finally he got so
discouraged that he plumb went TO
r~ieces-got on n long bat and stayed
there till his money ran out. Then
one bitter night he starts up to Bo-
nnnza TO have II out with Mac. The
mercury vas so low II had run into
the ground II foot. Farrell slept In
n deserted cabin without n fire and
not enough bedding. He caught pneu.
mony. By the time he reached the
Claim he was a mighty sick man. Next
week he died. That's all Mac done
TO O'Neill. Not a thing that wasn't
legal, either"
Gordon thought Of Sheba O'Neill rs
she sat listening to the tales OF Mac.
donald In DANES parlor and his gorge
rose ut the man.
"But Mac had fell on his feet al
right" continued Holt. He got hi.
start Off that claim. Now he's n mil
lionaire two or three times over.
reckon"
They reached the outskirts Of Ka
matlah about noon Of the third day
Gordon left Holt Mt his cabin after
they had eaten and went In alone 70
look the ground over. He met Self
ridge ut the post Office. That gentle
nan was eifusive In his greeting.
"This Is n pleasant surprise. MI. FL
Hot. When did you get In? I'm down
on business, Of course. No need to tel
you that-nobody would come to this
hole for any other reason. Rowland
aud his wife are the only possible
people here. OF course you'll stop
| with u.s."
Elliot answered Genially. "Pleasan,
time we had on the river, didn't wei
Thanks awfully for your invitation
but I've already made arrangements
for putting up"
"Whcre? There's no decent place
In camp except ut Howland's."
81 couldn't think of troubling him.
%countcrCd Gordon.
mo trouble ut all. Wen send for
your things. Where are they?"
The land agent let him have II be.
twa,n tho avnc uAt Eid.,n IT,I,'o
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15

Sometimes the young government Of
fetal lay staring straight In front Of
him. Sometimes he appeared to doze.
Again he would talk In the disJointed
way Of n lot clear In the head.
An opportunity came In the after
noon for q moment.
Keep your eyes skinned for a
chance to lay out the guard tonight
md get his gum" Holt said quickly.
Gordon nodded II don't know that
I've got to do everything just ms 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-n0w! There amt nobody
trying to boss you," Holt explained In
a 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 glIprd. who WINS Sitting tnilor
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15

had a good sleep. But right now he's
sure some Exhibit A. Look Mt the
bones sticking through his cheeks"
Big Bill commented.
"Come. Oid-T1mer. Get down In
your collar to Il. Once more now.
Don't lie down on the Job. All together.
now" The stranger clucked to an
Imaginary horse and made a motion
of lifting with his hands.
'Looks like his hawss Is begged
down In Fifty Mile swamp" suggested
Holt
Looks like" agreed bud.
The old miner said no more. But his
eyes narrowed to shining Sits. II this
man had come through Fifty Mile
, swamp, he must have started from the
river. That probably meant that he
bad come from Kusiak. He was q
young man. talking the jargon Of a
college football player. Without doubt
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15
HOLT RECOGNIZES ELLIOT, AND THE TWO ovERpowER.
ING THE KIDHAPERS, RETURN To KAMATLAH, WHERE
ELLIOT LEARNS TRUTH ABOUT COAL LAND DEALS

synopsia-As n representative Of the government Gordon Elliot Is
on his way to Alaska to investigate coal claims. On the boat he meets
and becomes interested In a fellow passenger whom he learns Is Sheba
oNeih. also going In" Colby Macdonald, active head of the land
grabbing syndicate under Investigation, comes aboard. Macdonald Is
attncked BY MINI laborers whom he has discharged, md the active
Intervention Of Elliot probably saves his life. Elliot and Macdonald
become In . measure friendly. though the Inter does not know that
Elliot Is on a mission which threatens to spoil plans OF Macdonald to
acquire millions OF dollars through the unlawful exploitation of i'm
mensey valuable coal fields. Elliot also "gets q line" on the position
occupied by Waily Selfrdge, Macdonalds righthand man. who IL re-
turulng from a visit to 1.-THE States" where he had gone In m effort to
convince the authorities that there was nothing wrong In Macdonalds
methods. Landing at Kusiak. Elliot finds that old friends OF his, Mr..
and Mrs. Paget, are the people whom Shebn has come TO visit. Mrs.
Pnget Is shebas cousin. AT dinner Elliot reveals to Macdonald the
object OF his coming to Alaska. The two men, naturally nntagonstic,
now also become rivals for the hand OF Sheba. Macdonald. foreseeing
failure of his financial plans II Elliot learns the facts, sends Sehridge to
Kamstlah TO arrange matters so that Elliot will be deceived as to the
true situation. Elliot also leaves for Kamauah and, wandering from tho
trail. believes that he faces death. Selfridge, on his arrival Mt Kamatlah,
has his agents abduct Gideon Holt, .oldtime miner. who knows too much
about Macdonalds activities.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15

I'm staying with him on his claim"
Wnlly had struck a match to light a
cigarette, but this simple statement
petrifed him. His jaw dropped and
his eyes bulged. Not till the fame
burned his fingers did he come to life.
"Did you say you were staying
with Gid Holtr he foundered.
eyes. He offered to board me-" an
swered the young man blsndiy.
Butt didn't know be was here
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15
he was, in the oldlphrnslng of the
North. n c~hechako.

he was, In the oldl phraslng of the
North, a chechako.
Gideon Hollis sly brain moved keen.
ly to the possibility that he could put
a name to this human derellct they
had picked up. lie began to see II
as more than n possibility, rs even n
probability, ut least as n ifty-ffty
chance. A sardonic grin lowered about
the corners OF his grim mouth. II
would be a strange freak of irony II
Wally Selfrldgc, to prevent a meeting
between him and the government land
agent, had sent him a hundred miles
into the wilderness to save the life OF
Gordon Elliot and so had brought
about the meeting that otherwise
would never have taken place.
The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15

Macdonald and Elliot drop
pretense Of friendship and start
bitter struggle for shebs's hand.
The next lnstaIlment tells how
Macdonald gained the fret I'D
vantage.
The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-05
ROMAN QUESTION
At PEACE TABLE
Settlement Between Vatican
and QuirinaI Will Go to the
Conference al
Versailles.

Rome, Nov. 30 tdelayed)-The report
that Pope Benedict will request the
peace conference to take VI the Roman
question ard effect n settlement be-
tween the vatican and the quirinal was
confirmed today in high vatican circles.
According 70 the same authority, the
pope already has personally prepared
Il plan by which he would have greater
freedom OF movement, while establish
ment of n station i'm the vatican would
permit the latter To transmit it's official
communications to foreign govern
ments and papal runcios without using
the italian telegraph lines.
Relative to the annuity OF 5000. eco
francs which the government placed at
the disposition of the holy see in 1870.
but when the latter never accepted
and which has automatically reverted
to the government every six years, the
pope that the governments
shall pay this into a permanent en-
dowment fund. from which the vatican
will accept the interest.
The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-05
AMERICANS REGARDED
AS STRANGE Beings
Visitors From Another Planet
View Of Germans Seeing Real
Shoes and Clothes.

With the American Army Of Occupa-
ton. Nov. 2S.--"They regarded us like
beings from another planet" - the way
an American soldier describes the re-
ception OF Americans in towns behind
the German lines.
Private Richardson. Of Worcester.
Mass, was among the first to penc-
trate as far as the Rhine.
In every town great crowds gath"
cred and started at the party with un-
usual interest. They displayed no hos
tllty-only a remarkable curisity.
Richardson said the people were as
tonished by an officers huge automo"
bile and examined It's rubber tires.
They felt the texture OF his clothes and
asked to examine his shoes. Shoes ap-
parently were very scarce.
Richardson saw well dressed women
wearing mems second hand shoes.
Whenever an automobile halted IL
was surrounded by crowds gazing
silently and wonderingly. Women
held up babies to look at the Ameri-
cans.
Soldiers seeing Richardson smoking
American cigarets offered to trade
an entire package Of theirs for one
cigaret.
The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-05
UKRA|N|ANS WANT
HELP Of ENTENTE
Desire Intervention to Eject
Germans and Protect Coun-
try Against the
BoIsheviStS.
Sy Associated Prsss.

Berlin, Friday, Nov. 29.-The Ukrain-
ians are longing for intervention by tho
entente to eject the Germans and pro-
tect the country against the bolshe-
visits. according to a statement made to
the Associated Press correspondent by
n Ukrainian delegation now in Berlin.
"When we threw off the Russian yoke"
said the delegations spokesman. "our
alternatives were to join the b~olshevists
or summo the help Of the Germans.
We chose the latter course but we
would never have done so IL we had
known what would be the result"
The Ukrainian representatives told
how the Germans dissolved the Ukrain-
ian parliament n installed their tool
as hetman. When the German revolu-
ton came the Ukrainians attempted to
secure their independence. They were
prevented from selling control Of Kiev
only by the German artillery, he de-
clared. The German soldiers councils
in the Ukraine have restored relations
with their officers. he reports, and the
old spirit now rules among them, the
orders from the revolutionary govern
ment having been disregarded.
The correspondents informant IN
sisted that the present revolt is anti
bolshevist and directed solely to Sc
curing the independence OF the Ukraine.
Their hope Is that the entente will
police the Ukraine and make the sum-
moning Of a constituent assembly pos"
oihle
The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-05
ATTACK lIEBkNECAT.
6y Associated Press.

Berlin. Saturday, Nov. 30.-Four
thousand noncommissioned officers at a
mass meeting today adopted a resolu-
ton calling upon the government to
end the ~boishevist agitation OF DR.. Karl
Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg and
demanding the co~nvocation Of a nation
nj assembly.
Phillip Scheidenann. the majority
socialist leader, was the chief speaker.
Hc pointed out the difficulties the gov
eminent was having because Of the
activities Of what he characterized ~
irresponsible elements. He warmly
championed tie Idea OF calling a o
stituent assembly.
The Spartacus group OF ultra radi"
Gals announced today that Il would
hold six meetings on Sunday.