Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-05-31
Gordon Spends a Busy Evening.
CHAPTER XVI.

frame Gordon Tor pTlSoll seIllehNe'
The worst Of II was that he need not
invent any evidence or take any
chances. If Macdonald came through
on the stand with an Identification OF
Elliot as one of his ASSISTANTS, the
young man would go down the river
to serve time. There was enough cor
roborative testimony 70 convict ST.
Peter himself.
I'm Just telling you what he said,'
Diane explained. "And II worried me.
His smile was cynical. ! couldn't help
thinking that II he wants TO get even
with Gordon
Mrs. Paget stopped. The maid had
Just brought into the room visitor.
Diane moved forward and shook hands
with him. "How do you do, Mr..
Strongp Take this big chair"
Hanford Strong accepted the chair
and a cigar. He came promptly to the
object Of his call.
81 don't know whether this is where
I should have come or not. Are you
folks for young Elliot or are you for
Selfridge?" he demanded.
IF you put 1t that way, we're for FL
hot" smiled Peter.
"All right. Let me put II another
way. You work for Mac. Are you on
his side or on Elliot's in this matter Of
the coal claims?"
Diane looked at Peter. He took his
time to answer.
eve hope the coal claimants will
win, but we've got sense enough to
see that Gordon is In here to report
the facts. That's what he is paid for.
He'll tell the truth as he sees it. II
his superior officers decide on those
facts against Macdonald, l don't see
that Elliot is to blame"
THAT'S how 1t looks to me-" agreed
Strong. I'm for wide-Open Alaska.
but that don't make ii right to put this
young fellow through for a crime he
didn't do. Fact is. like him. He's
square. So I've come to tell you some
thing"
He smoked for a minute silently be-
fore he continued.
1--WE got no evidence in his favor,
but I bumped into something q little
while ago that didn't look good to me.
You know I room next him at the no
tel. l heard a noise in his room, and
I thought that was funny, seeing as he
. was locked up In JAIL SO / kinder
listened and heard whispers and the
sound Of some one moving about.
There's a door between his room and
mine that is kept locked. looked
through the keyhole. and In Elliot's
room there was Wally Selfridge and
another man. They were looking
through papers at the desk. Wally
put stack Of them in his pocket and
they went out. locking the door behind
them"
"They had no business doing that"
burst out Diane. "Wally Selfridge isn't
an officer Of the law"
Streng nodded dryly to her. "Just
what / thought. So I followed them.
They went TO Macdonald's offices. AZ
ter a while Wally came out and left the
other man there. Then presently the
lights went out. The man is camped
there for the night. VIII you tell me
whyr"
"Why?" repeated Diane with her
sharp eyes on the miner.
Because Wally has some papers
there he don't want to get away from
him."
"Some Of Gordon's papers, of
course"
SYou'ye said n"
"All his notes and evidence in the
case Of the coal claims, probably" con.
hibuted Peter.
Maybe. Wally has stolen them, but
ne hasn't nerve enough to burn them
I'LL he gets orders from Mac. So he's
holding them safe at the office"
GUESSED Strong.
ITS an outrage"
"Surest thing you know. Wally has
liked 1t to frame him for prison and to
clay safe about his evidence on the
loal claims"
"What are you going to do about
r. Diane asked her husband sharply
Peter rose. First I'm going to see
sordOn and hear what he has to say
Come on, Strong. We may be gone
Iuite while, Diane. Don't wait ur
or me If you get through your stint
II nursing"
Gopher Jones let them into the ram
hackle building that served as Jail
and after three dollars had jingled il
he palm of his hand he stepped out
tide and left the men alone with hi:
prisoner. The three put their head.
pgether and whispered.
"Tll meet you outside the house o.
;elfridge IN half an hour, Strong" wa.
he last thing that Gordon said befor,
Cones came back 10 order out the Wis
Sors.
As soon as the place was dark again
Gordon set to work on the flmsy
framework of his cell window. III,
new already it was 40 deCrepit tina
le could escape any time he desired
nut until now there had been no rea
ION why he should. Within a quartz
" an hour he lifted the iron-grille,
lash bodily from the frame an,
:rawled through The window.
He found PaCet and Strong waitin
!or him in the shadows of pine out
side the yard of SelfridCe.
TO begin with. you walk straigh
lCme and go - bed. Peter" the youn
nan announced. You're not in thi,
You're not invited ~ our party.
don't have 10 tell YOU WHY do Il"