The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1918-01-16
CHAPTER K.
Gordon Invites Himself to Dinner.
and Does Not Enjoy 1t.

and Does Not Enjoy 1t.
Big Bill and his companions reached
Kamatlah early next day. They re-
ported at once to Selfridge. 1t had
been the intention of Wally to vent
upon them the bad temper that had
been gathering ever since his talk with
Elliot. But his first sarcastic ques-
ton drew such n Snarl of anger that
he reconsidered. The men were both
sullen and furious.
The little man became alarmed. In
stead of reprOacheS he gave them soft
words and promises. The company
would see them through. 1t would pro-
tect them against criminal procedure,
But above all they must stand pat in
denial A conviction would be impOs-
sible even If the states attorney filed
an Indictment against them. Mean
while they would remain on the COM
pany pay roll.
Gordon Elliot was trained inveSti-
gator. Even without Holt at his side
he would probably have unearthed the
truth about the Kamatlah situation.
But with the little miner by his side
to tell him the facts, he found his task
an easy one.
Selfridge followed orders and let
him talk with the men freely. All of
| them had been drilled till they knew
their story like parrots. They We're
suspicious OF the approaches Of FL
liOt, but they had been warned that
| they must appear to talk caudidly.
/ The result was that some talked too
/ much and some not enough. They let
| slip admissions under slillful eXami-
/ nation that could be explained on no
! other basis than that of company
/ ownership.
Both Selfridge and Rowland Outdid
/ themselves in efforts to establish close
social relations. But Gordon was care
/ full to put himself under no Obligations.
Within two weeks Elliot had fin
| iShed his work at Kamatlah.
"Off for Kusiak tomorrow" he told
T Holt that night.
The old miner went with him as a
guide to the big bend. Gordon had
no desire to attempt again Fifty Mile
swamp without the help of someone
who knew every foot of the trail. With
( Holt to show the way the swamp be-
came merely hard, grueling mush
through boggy lowlands.
Weary with the trail, they reached
the river at the end of 4 long day
An Indian village lay sprawled along
the bank, and through this the two
men tramped to the rOadhOuSe where
they were to put up for the night.
Holt called to the younger man, who
was at the time in the lead.
wait a minute, Elliot"
Gordon turned. The old Alaskan
was Offering q quarter to q little half,
naked Indian boy. Shyly the four.
year-Old came forward, a step at g
time, his finger in his mouth.
whats your name, kid?" Holt
flashed a look Mt Elliot that warned
him 10 pay attention.
"COlmac," the boy answered bash
fully.
His fist closed on the quarter, he
turned, and like a startled caribou he
fled to 4 comedy young Indian woman
standing near the trail.
With cleaning eyes Holt turned tC
Elliot. "Take q good look at the
squaw," he said in q low voice.
Elliot glanced at the woman behind
whose skirts the yOungster was hid
ing. "She's not bad looking, if that's
what you mean," he said after they
haH 70 nm tho trail
"You amt the only white man thai
has thought that" retOrted tbs ole
miner significantly.
"NO" Gordon had learned to lei
Holt tell things at his leisure It ISL