Tombstone epitaph., 1918-04-07

of Holt was that o group of big capt.
talists might be coming to look over
their investment. But he rejected this
There would be no need to
Try any deception upon them.
Mail from Seattle reached camp once
q month. Holt sat down before his
stove to read one Of the newspapers he
had brought from the office. 1t was
the P.-I. On the fifth page was a
little story that gave him his clue.
ELLIOT TO INVESTIGATE
The reopening of the controversy as
to the Macdonald claims. which had
been clear-listed for patent by Harold
,. winton. the Commissioner OF tho
General Land Office. takes on another
phase with the appointment Of Gordon
Elliot an special field agent to examine
the validity Of the holdings. The new
neid agent won a reputation by his
work in unearthing tho Oklahoma
Gold Brick" land frauds.
Elliot leaves Seattle in the Queen
City Thursday for the North. whore
he will make q thorough Investigation
OF the whole situation with q view to
his report IL favorable to the claimants
the patents will be granted without
further delay.
This was too good to keep. Holt
pulled on his boots and went out t.
twit such of the enemy as he might
meet. It chanced that the first OF then
was Selfridge. whom he had not seer
~s~co ~. >.-l-.1 thor0h ho knoyy this
little man was In camp.
"How goes II, Holt7 Fine and
dandy. chr" inquired Wally with the
geniality he affected.
The old miner shook his head dole
fully. II done bust my laig, Mr.. Sci
FISH," he groaned. 1t was one Of his
pleasant ways to affect a difficulty Of
hearing and q dullness Of understand
ing, 30 that he could legitimately cal
people BY distorted versions Of theiI
names. The old man don't amount t.
much nowadays"
Nothing to that. Gid. You're young
er than you ever were. judging BY youI
looks"
Then my looks lie to beat the devil
Mr.. Selfish"
MY name is Selfridge." explained
Wally. . trifle irritated.
Holt put . cupped hand to his eal
anxiously. "Shellfsh. did you say
Tha' . right How come I to forget
The old mans going pretty fast. Mr.
Shellnsh. No more memory than
jackr1bbit. Say. Mr.. Shellfish. whats
the idee Of all this here back-to-the
people movement, a. the old sayin' isr
II don't know what you mean. And
my name IL Selfridge. tell you.
snapped the owner Of that name.
"'Course I amt got no more sens<
than the law allows. I'm a buxzart
haid, but me I kinder got to millin' Il
over and In respect to these here foca
improvements. as you might say. Tn
doggoned II I sabe the whyfor."
. "Just some business changes"
Holt showed his tobacco-stainet
teeth in a grin spleneuc. "Oh. That.
all. didn't know but what 20,
might be expecting a visitor"
Selfridge flashed q sharp sideloni
glance at him. "What do you mean
visitorT
Il just got q notion mebbe you nigh
be looking for one. Mr.. Pelfrich. Lik'
a. not you amt fixing up for this Cor
don Elliot a-tall."
wally had no comeback. unless I
was one to retort in ironic admiration
You're q wonder, Holt. Pity you dom
start q detective bureau"
The old man went away cackling.
II Seifridge had held any doubts be
fore. he discarded them nov. Hol
would wreck the whole enterprise
were he given q chance. It would neve
do to let Elliot meet and talk with him
He knew too much, and he was cage
to tell all he knew.
Macdonald's lieutenant got busy q
once with plans to abduct Holt. wei
send the old man on on Q prospectinl
trip with some Of the boys" explained
Seifridge to HoWsand. THAT way wei
kin two birds Hes back on his IA
sessment work. The time limit viii b.
up before he returns and well start
contest for the claim"
Rowland made no comment. He wa
an engineer and not Q politician. Ii
his position 1t was impossible for hin
not to know that . good deal abou
the legal status Of the Macdonald
claims was irregular. But he wa
Q firm believer in 1 wide-open Alaska
in the use Of the territory BY thos'
who had settled II.
Better arrange 1t with Big Bill
then, but don't tell me anything abou
II. I don't want to know the details,
he told Selfridge.
Big Bin Macy accepted the job witt
Q grin. He had never liked old Holt
anyhow. Besides, they were not goinl
to do him any harm.
Holt was baking . match Of sour
dough bread that evening when ther'
came D knock at the cabin door. A
ssht Of Big BIN and his two compan
ions the prospector closed the ovei
and straighteneA with alert suspicion
He was not On visiting terms with IN.
Of these men. Why had they couS T.
zee hint
Were going prospecting up vii,
Goose creek, and we want you to 9
along, Gid" explained Macy. ~You'r
a old sos-. dough miner, and veal
agree we'd IKE 70 have you throw d
with ~. What sayr
TIE old miners answer Was dlrec
but not nattering. ~What Do I want b
20 on Q wild-eoO0e mush with q bQDeI