Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-01-30
His Strong Fingers Closed on the Gull.
let Of the Man.
H~@A%ax

"Cut 1t out, Bill. That line o. talk
don't buy you anything" said Holway
CURLY. "What's the use of beefing?''
"Now you're shouting, my friend
agreed old Gideon. II guess, Elliot,
you can loosen up on the chefs throat
awhile. He's had persuading enough
don't you reckon? I'll sit here and
sorter keep the boys company while
you cut the pack-ropes and bring 'em
here. But first I'd step in and unload
all the hardware they're packing. II
you don't one Of them is likely to get
anxious. I'd hate to see any Of them
commit suicide with none Of their
friends here to say, Don't he look nat
uralY"
Elliot brought back the pack-ropes
and cut them into suitable lengths.
Hollis monologue rambled on. He was
garrulous and affable. Not for a long
time had he enjoyed himself so much.
Gordon tied the hands Of Big Bill
behind him, then roped his feet togeth-
err, after which he did the same for
Holway. The old miner superintendent
the job and was not satisfied till he
had added few extra knots on his
own behalf.
'That'll hold them for awhile,
shouldn't wonder. Now if you'll just
cover friend chef with this sawed-off
gat, Elliot, I'll throw the diamond
hitch over what supplies We'll need to
get back to Kamatlah. I'll take one
bronch and leave the other to the con-
victs," said Holt cheerfully.
'Forget that convict stuff" growled
Macy. "With Macdonald back of us
and the Guttenchilds back Of him,
you'll have hectic time getting any
thing on u.s.
''That might be true if these folks
were back Of you. But are they?
Course amt any Sherlock Holmes,
but it don't look to me like they'd play
any such fool system as this"
After Holt had packed one Of the
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 Dud with US
for a 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 we'll if 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
ut amt likely any grizzlies will
come pokin' their noses into camp. But
you never can tell. Any last words
you want sent to relatiyes?" asked
Gideon Holt.
The last words they heard from Big
Bill as they moved down the draw
were sulphuric.
It was three o'clock in the morning
by the watch when they started. About
nine they threw off for breakfast. By
this time they were just across the
divide and were ready to take the
down trail.
II think Wen let bud go now" Ell
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 it matter if they do?
We have both rifles and In va loft tham |
only one revolver. Besides, I don't
like to leave two bound men alone in
so wild 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 ab0,1t noon and