The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-02-28

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. If
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 long
time had he enjoyed himself so much.
Gordon tied the hands of Big Bill
behind him, then roped his feet togeth-
er, after which he did the same for
Holway. The old miner superintendent
the job and was not satisfied till he
had added a few extra knots on his
own behalf
'"Thatll hold them for awhile, I
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 i 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 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 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.
1T amt likely any grizzlies will
come pokin' their noses into camp. But
you never can tell. Any last words
you want sent to relatives?" asked
Gideon Holt.
The last words they heard from Big
Bill as they moved down the draw
wSe sulphuric.
1t 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 thu
down trail.
Il think We'll let bud go now" Ell
liot told his partner in the adventure
"Better hold him till afternoon. Their
they can't possibly reach US till WI
get to Kamatlah."
"What docs it matter If they do
We have both rifles and have left then
only one revolver. Besides, I dom
like to leave two bound men alone il
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 headwater
Z of Wild Goose creek about noon an,
followed the stream down. They tray
eled steadily without haste. So lon
as they kept good lookout there wa
nothing to be feared from the me
they had left behind. They had bot
a long start and the advantage Q
weapons.
If Elliot had advertised for yea
he could not have found man VIII
t knew more of Colby Macdonald's pas
|. than Gideon Holt. The old man ha
Y worked a claim on Frenchman cree
r with him and had by sharp practice
d so at least he had come to believe
K been lawed out of his rights by th
0 shrewd Scotsman. For seventeen yeal
he had nursed a grudge against Ma
|. donald, and he was never tired of tall
h ing about him. One story in particl
e lar interested Gordon.
"There was Farrell O'Neill. He W;
'. a good fellow, Farrell was, but he ha
o just one weakness. There was time
- when he liked the bottle too well. He
:" let it alone for months and then jul
t. lap the stuff up. It was the time I
q. the stampede to Bonanza creek. We
d the news of the strike on BOnanl
k reached Dawson and we oil burnt I
the trail to get to the new grour
II first. O'Neill was one of the first. T
ID got in about twenty below Discover
;s if remember. Mac wasn't in Dawso
D. but he got there next mO'nin' al
h heard the news. He lit out for B
is nanza pronto."
ct The old miner stopped, took che
If of tobacco, and looked down into Il
~ valley far below where. Kamatl:
ve could just be seen, little huddle
f. huts.
Mt "Well?" asked Elliot. It was Occ
to sionally necessary to prompt HI
n when he paused for his dramatic {
ne fects.
n "AIac drops in and joins O'Neill
" night. They knew each other, y U
Y, derstanG, SO o. course it was natur
Mac would put up at his camp. ONE
IL had partner and they had locat