Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-07-25
CHAPTER XIII.
Holt Frees His Mind.
Copyright 1907. By

uo". 1Ou Detter COME ana beat me
up first, Mac" he jeered. I'm all
stove up with a busted laig, so you can
wallop me good. I'd come out there,
but I'm too crippled to move"
You're not too crippled to 90 back
to Kusiak with me. If you can't walk,
you'll ride. But back you CO."
Zine. 1 been worrying about how
to get there. It's right good of you to
bring one Of these here taxis for me, as
the old sayin' is."
where have you cached the gold
you stole?"
Il amt seen the latest papers, Mac.
What is this STUFF about Robin a bank
and shootin' Milton?"
you're under arrest for robbery and
murder"
Am II Unload the particulars.
When did do it all?"
you know when. Just before you
left town."
Holt shook his head slowly mo,
Sir. l can't seem to remember 1t.
Sure 1t amt some one else you're
thinking about? Howcome you to fix
on me as one of the bold, bad bandits ?"
Because you had not sense enough
y cover your tracks. You might lust
~ well have left note saying you did
1t. First, you come to town and buy
one Of the fastest dog teams in Alaska.
THAT'S an easy one I bought that
team to win the Alaska sweepstakes
from you. And I'm goin' to do it. The
team wasn't handled right or it would
have won last time. I got to mullin' 1t
over and figured that old Gid Holt was
the dog puncher that could land those
huskies in front. Seer?
You bought 1t to make your get
away after the robbery" retorted Mac
donald.
TITS a difference of opinion makes
horse races. What else have you got
against us7"
I'VE found In your room one Of the
sacks that had held the gold you took
from the bank"
THAT'S right. I took 1t <from the
bank In the afternoon. where / had had
1t on deposit, to pay for the team l
bought Millions books will show that.
But you didn't find any sack 1 took
when your bank was robbed-if 1t was
added the old man signif-
cantly.
"Of course, I knew you would have
an alibi. Have you got one to explain
why you left town so suddenly the
night the bank was robbed? Milton
was killed after midnight. Before
morning you and your friend Elliot
routed out Ackroyd and bought a lot
Of supplies from him for a hurry-up
trip. You slipped around to the corral
and hit the trail right into the blizzard.
Will you tell me why you were In such
hurry to get away, If 1t wasn't to es-
cape from the town where you had
murdered a decent old fellow who
never had harmed a soul?"
Sure I'll tell you" The black eyes
Of the little man snapped eagerly. 81
came 80 p. d. q. because that side pard-
ner of mine Gordon Elliot wouldn't let
me wait till mornin'. He had a reason
for leavin' town that wouldn't wait
minute, one big enough to drive him
right into the heart Of the blizzard. Me.
| tagged along"
Il can guess his reason" jeered the |
Scotsman. But I'd like to hear You
put name to it."
Holt grinned maliciously and waved
hand toward the girl who was pillow
ing the head Of her lover "The name
Of bis reason is Sheba O'Neill, but it's
10 be Sheba Elliot soon, looks like"
You mean"
The little miner took the words tri-
lmphantly out Of his mouth. He
eaned forward and threw them into
he face of the man he hated. 81 mean
hat while you was dancin' and .philan-
ler1n' with other women, Gordon Elliot
vas buckin' blizzard to save the life
II the girl you both claimed to love.
de was MUSLIN into fifty miles of
'rozen hell while you was fllIn' I'D
With ported grouse and champagne.
with the lame goose and
ne monkey singlestep you was dom
White drifts. He beat you at your
'wn game. man. You're a bear for
ne outdoor stuff, they tell me. You
new up q blizzard for breakfast and
hrottle pack of wolves to work I'M
n appetite for dinner. It's your spe-
falty. All right. Take your hat off
o that chechacko who has just whaled
ou blind. He has outgamed you, Col
y Macdonald. You don't run in his
lass. l see he is holding his haid up
GAIN Give him another half-hour and
ell be ready to 60 to the mat with
on again."
The big Alaskan pushed away a fear
hat had been lingering in his mind ever
lnce he had stumbled on that body
uried In the snow yesterday after
Don. Was his enemy going to escape
I'm after sI7 Gould Holt b. telling