Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1918-03-22
CHAPTER xVi.
Gordon Spends a BUSY Evenino.

The worst of it was that he need not
ADVent any evidence or take any
chances. If Macdonald came through
Oh the stand with an Identification of
Elliot as one of his assailants, the
young man would go down the river
to serve time. There was enough cor
rri'Orative testimony to convict ST..
Pefer himself.
I'm Just telling you what he said,"
Dlane explained. "And it worried me.
ftls smile was cynical. I couldn't help
thinking that if he wants to get even
with Gordon"
Mrs. Paget stopped. The maid had
Just brought into the room a visitor.
Diane moved forward and shook hands
with him. SLOW do you do, Mr..
StrOng2 Take this big chair"
Hanford Strong accepted the chair
and cigar. He came promptly to the
object of his call.
81 don't know whether this is where
should have come or not. Are you
folks for young Elliot or are you for
Selfridge" he demanded.
'If you put it that way, we're for FL
aiot," smiled Peter.
'All right. Let me put it another
way. You work for Mac. Are you on
his side or on Elliot's In this matter of
the coal claims?"
Diane looked at Peter. He took his
time to answer.
eve hope the coal claimants will
win, but we've got sense enough to
see that Gordon is in here to report
the facts. That's what he is paid for.
He'll tell the truth as he sees it. If
his superior officers decide on those
facts against Macdonald, I don't see
that Elliot is to blame"
That's how it looks to me-" agreed
Strong. 'T'm for a wide-open Alaska,
but that don't make it right to put this
young fellow through for a crime he
didn't do. Fact is. | like him. He's
square. SO I've come to tell you some
thing"
He smoked for minute silently be-
fore he continued.
1--WE got no evidence in his favor,
but / bumped into something a little
while ago that didn't look good to me.
You know l room next him at the no.
tel. l heard a noise in his room, and
thought that was funny, seeing as he
was locked up in Jail. SO l kinder
listened and heard whispers and the
sound of some one moving about.
There's a door between his room and
mine that is kept locked. l looked
through the keyhole, and in Elliot's
room there was Wally Selfridge and
another man. They were looking
through papers at the desk. Wally
put q stack of them in his pocket and
they went out, locking the door behind
them"
"They had no business doing that"
burst out Diane. "Wally Seifridge isn't
an officer of the law"
Strong nodded dryly to her. "Just
what 1 thought. So l followed them.
sThey went te Macdonald's offices. At
ter while Wally came out and left the
other man there. Then presently the
lights went out. The man is camped
there for the night. VIII you tell me
whyP"
"Why?" repeated Diane with her
sharp eyes on the miner.
"Because Wally has some papers
there he don't want to get away from
him."
"Some of Gordon's papers, of
course"
you've said it."
"All his notes and evidence in the
case of the coal claims, probably" con
tributed Peter.
Maybe Wally has stolen them, but
ne hasn't nerve enough to burn them
tilI he gets orders from Mae. So he's
holding them safe at the office, "
guessed Strong.
ats an outrage"
"S,rest thing you know. Wally has
f~ed It to frame him for prison and to
MAY safe about his evidence on the
coal claims
"What are you going to do about
81" Diane ask d her husband sharply
Peter rose First I'm going TO see
Gordon and hear what he has TO say
come on, Strong. We may be gone
nnite while. Diane. Don't wait VI
for me if you get through your stint
of pursuing"
G,ypher Jones let them into the ram
shacEle building that served as Jail
ond after three dollars had jingled IL
the palm of his hand he stepped out
side an. left the men alone with his
nrisor..,. The three put their heads
toge- ger and whispered.
&flr meet you outside the house OF
SeIfridge in half an hour, Strong" was
che last thing that Gordon said before
Zones came back to, order out the Wis
itors.
As soon as me place was dark again
Gordon set TO work on the dimsy
framework of his cell window. He
knew already it was so decrepit the:
ne could escape any time he desired