The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1918-01-02
CHAPTER vi.
WalIy Gets Orders.


at the man in the doorway. Selfridge
had come in jauntily, cigar in his
mouth, but at sight of the grim face
of his chief the grin fled.
"Come in and shut the door," ordered
the Scotsman. 81 sent for you to con-
graduate you, Wally. You did fine
work outside. You told me, didn't you,
that it was all settled at last-that our
claims ara clear-listed for patent?"
The tubby little man felt the edge
of irony in the quiet voice. "Sure.
That's what Winton told me-" he as
scented nervously.
"Then you'll be interested to know
that a special agent of the land de-
partmert sat opposite me last night
and without batting an eye came
across with the glad news that he was
here to investigate our claims"
Selfridge bounced up like a rubber
ball from the chair into which he had
Just settled. "Whatw
pleasant surprise, isn't it? I've
been wondering what you were doing
outside. Of course 1 know you had
to take in the shows and cabarets of
New York. But couldn't you edge in
an hour or two once a week to attend
to business"
Wally's collar began to choke him.
The cool, hard words pelted like hail.
"Must be bluff, Mac. The muckrake
magazines have raised such a row
about the Guttenchild crowd putting
| over a big steal on the public that the
| party leaders are scared stiff"
| 81 understand that, Wally. What 1
| don't get is how you came to let them
slip this over on you without even
a guess that it was going to happen"
That phase of the subject Selfridge
did not want to discuss.
"Bet you hat I've guessed 1t right
! just 4 grand-stand play of the admin
istratiOn to fool the dear people. This
fellow has got his orders to give us
clean bill of health. Sure. That
must be it. 1 suppose it's this man
Elliot that came up on the boat
with u.s.
eyes"
"Well, that's easy. If he hasn't been
seen we can see him."
Macdonald looked his man Friday
over with a scarcely yelled contempt
you've about as much vision as a
breed trader. Unless l miss my guess
Elliot isn't that kind. He'll go through
to a finish. If he sees straight were
all right, but if he is a narrow conser
walton fanatic he might go ahead anG
queer the whole game"
"YOu wouldn't stand for that" The
quick glance of Selfridge asked ques
ton.
The lips of the Scotsman were like
steel traps and his eyes points of steel
"We'll cross that bridge if we come tt
it. Our first move is to try to win hin
to see this thing our way. I'll have 8
casual talk with him before he leave:
for Kamatlah and feel him out"
"What's he doing here at all? L
he's investigating the Kamatlah claims
why does he go hundreds of miles ou
of his way to come in to Kusiak ?
asked Selfridge.
Macdonald smiled sardonically. "He':
doing this job right. Elliot as good a.
told me that he's on the job to look W
my record thoroughly. So he comes tt
Kusiak first. In few days he'll leave
for Kamatlah. That's where you come
in, Wally."
"How do you mean"
you're going to start for Kamatlal
tomorrow. You'll arrange the stag
before he gets there-see all the mel
and the foremen. Line them up 81
they'll come through with the prope
talk. If you have any doubts abou
whether you can trust someone, dom
, take any chances. Fire him out Of tn
, camp. Offer Elliot the company hos
, pitality. Load him down with favors
Take him everywhere. Show him ey
, erything. But don't let him get an,