Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-04-26

the idee Of all this here back-to-the
people movement, as the old sayin' is?
Il don't know what you mean. An,
my name is Selfridge. tell you.
snapped the owner Of that name.
"COurse 1 amt got no more sens
than the law allows. I'm a buzzart
haid. but me l kinder got to millin'
over and in respect to these here lOca
improvements. as you might say. In
doggoned If sabe the whyfor."
"JuSt some business changes"
Holt showed his tObaccO-staine(
teeth in grin splenetic. "Oh. That's
all. didn't know but what yor
might be expecting a visitor"
Selfridge flashed a sharp sidelons
glance at him. what do you means
visitOr?"
81 just got notion mebbe you might
be looking for one, Mr.. Pelfrich. Like
as not you amt fixing up for this Cor
don Elliot a-tall."
Wally had no comeback, unless II
was one to retOrt in ironic admiration
You're wonder, Holt. Pity you don't
start detective bureau"
The old man went away cackling.
If Selfridge had held any doubts be-
fore. he discarded them now. Holt
would wreck the whole enterprise,
were he given chance 1t would never
do to let Elliot meet and talk with him.
He knew too much, and he was eager
to tell all he knew.
MacdOnald's lieutenant got busy at
once with plans to abduct Holt. "We'll
send the old man off on a prospecting
trip with some Of the boys" explained
Selfridge to Rowland. THAT way We'll
kill two birds. He's back on his as
sessment work. The time limit will be
up before he returns and we'll start q
contest for the claim"
Rowland made no comment. He was
an engineer and not a politician. In
his position it was impossible for him
not to know that good deal about
the legal status of the Macdonald
claims was irregular. But he was
a firm believer In q wide-Open Alaska,
in the use Of the territory by those
who had settled 1t.
Better arrange 1t with Big Bill,
then. but don't tell me anything about
it. l don't want to know the Details"
he told Selfridge.
Big Bill Macy accepted the job with
grin. He had never liked old Holt,
anyhow. Besides, they were not going
to do him any harm.
Holt was baking q match Of sour
dough bread that evening when there
came a knock at the cabin door. At
sight Of Big Bill and his two compan-
ions the prOspector closed the oven
and Strengthened with alert suspicion.
He was not on visiting terms with any
of these men. Why had they come to
see him?
"We're going prospecting up Wild
Goose creek, and we want you to 60
along, Gid" explained Macy. You're
an old sOur-dOugh miner. and VEAL
agree we'd like to have y0n throw in
with US. What sayT
The old miners answer was direct
Oot hOt hattCilhSs w uut whit u
go on 'wild-gOOse mush with q bunch
of buns fOr?" he shriHed.
Bill Macy scratched his hook nose
and looked reprOachfully at his host.
At least Holt thought he was looking
at him. One could not be sure, for
Bits eyes did not exactly track.
whats the use of swapping at me
like a turtle? burden says Wild Goose
looks fine. There's gold up there
heaps of it."
Let 1t stay there, then. / mint
going. That's fiat" Holt turned to
adjust the damper of his stove.
"Oh, l don't know. 1 wouldn't say
that" drawled Bill insolently.
The man at the stove caught the
change in tone and turned quickly. He
was too late. Macy had thrown him
self forward and the weight of his
body flung Holt against the wall. Re
fore the miner could recover. the other
two men were upon him. They bore
MIN to the floor and in spite Of his
struggles tied him hand and foot.
Big BIZ rose and looked down deri- |
'ively at his prisoner. Better change
your mind and 60 with us. Holt. Wen
spend quiet month up at the head
quarters Of Wild Goose. Say you'll |
,Ome along"
what are you going to do with
ne?" demanded Holt.
Il reckon you need church to fall
IN you before you can take a hint.
didn't l mention Wild Goose creek
hree or four times?" jeered his cantor.
Holt made no further protest. He
vas furious. but at present quite helm
ess. However 1t went against the
rain. he might as well give in until re-
ellion would do some good.
Ten minutes later the party was
moving silently along the trail that
ed to the hills. The pack horse went
rst. in charge of George Holway. The
risoner walked next, his hands tied
ehind him. Big Bill followed. and
ne man he had called bud brought ND
he rear.
Macy had released the hands of his
risOner so that he might have a
nance to fight the mosquitoes, but he
ept a wary eye upon him and never
It him move more than a few feet
'om him. The trail grew sleeper as 1t
cared the head Of the canyon till at
lst 1t climbed the left wall and
merged from the gulch to an uneven {
esa.
The leader Of the party looked at
IS watch. past midnight. Well
imp here, George. and see if we can't
It rid of the 'skeeters."