Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-05-31

ton. commissioner Of the general land
office, might be forced to resign his
place. This was a blow to the coal
claimants. and the Sun charged In
vitriolic language that the reports or
Elliot were to blame. He was. the |
newspaper claimed, an enemy to all
those who had come to Alaska to earn
an honest living there. He was a
snake in the grass, and as such every |
decent man ought to hold him In scorn. |
Elliot read this just as he was leav-
ing for the Willow Creek camp. He |
thrust the paper impatiently into his
coat pocket and swung to the saddle
Why did they prosecute him? lie had
told nothing but the truth, nothing not
required of him by the simplest, ele-
mental honesty. Yet he was treated
as an Outcast and criminal. The In
justice of it was beginning to rankle.
He was temperamentally an opti-
mist, but depression rode with him 10
the gold camp and did not lift from his
spirits till he started back next day for
Kusiak. The news had been flashed by
wire all over the United States that he
was a crook. His friends and relatives
could give no adequate answer to the
fact that an indictment hung over his
head. In Alaska he was already con-
victed by public opinion.
In the late afternoon, while Gordon
was still fifteen miles from kusiak.
his horse fell lame. He led it limping
to the cabin of some miners.
There were three of them. and they
had been drinking heavily from jug
Of whisky left earlier in the day by
the stage-driver Gordon was in two
minds whether to accept their surly
permission to stay for the night, but
the lameness of his horse decided him.
Not caring to invite their hostility.
he gave his name as Gordon instead OF
Elliot. He was to learn within the
hour that this was mistake number
two.
From a pocket Of the coat he had
thrown on a bed protruded the news
paper Gordon had brought from Ku-
siak. One of the men. big red-head-
ed fellow. pulled it out and began sulk-
lily to read.
While he read the other two blck-
cred and drank and snarled at each
other. All three of the men were in
that stage of drunkenness when a
, quarrel is likely to flare up ut mo-
ment's notice.
: listen here" demanded the man
, with the newspaper. TELL you what.
, boys, I'm going to wiring the neck of
that pussyfOoting spy Elliot If 1 ever
: get n chanct."
+ He read aloud the editorial in the
Sun. After he had finished, the 9th
y ers joined him in chorus Of curses.
o 81 always did hate spy-and this
Z ones murderer too. Why don't some
one fill his hide with lead?" one of the
q men wanted to know.
, Rethead was sitting Mt the table. He
thumped heavy fist so hard that the
:, tin cups Jumped. "Gimme a crack a,
= him and I'll show you"
:, A shadow fell across the room. Ir
the doorway stood q newcomer. Cor
don had sensation as II lump of ice
had been drawn down his spine. Fol
;, the man who had just come in was Biz
9 Bill Macy, and he was looking at thu
field agent with eyes in which amaze
:, ment, anger and triumph blazed.
!. I'm glad to death to meet up will
: you again, Mr.. Elliot" he jeered
Seems like old times on Wild-Goose.'
= "What you say his name isf" cut Il
!. the man with the newspaper.
Hasn't he introduced himself
- boysT Macy answered with a crue
- grin. "NOw. amt that modest Of him
- You lads are entertaining that well
known deteckative and spy, GOrdo
=. Elliot. that renowned king of hold
ups"
The red-headed man interrupte
. with howl of rage. "If you're teilin
!. it straight. Bill Macy. I'll learn him I
spy on me-"
:, Elliot was sitting on one of the bed.
:. He had not moved an inch since Mac
=, had appeared. but the brain behind hi
live eyes was taking stock of the sitg
e alton. Big Bill blocked the doOrwa.
The table was in front Of the window
). Unless he could fight his way out, ther
=, was no escape for him. He wa
-, trapped.
10 Quietly Gordon looked from one I
- another.
~ I'm not spying on you. My hOrs
-, Is lame. You can see that for you
= self. All l asked was a nights lOd,
ing"
Under another name than your owl
you cussed sneak"
The field agent did not understan
the fury of the man, because he di
not know that these miners were worl
ing the claim under defective It'll
and that they had jumped to the col
clusion that he had come to get ev
dence against them. But he knew thu
FEED FROM FISH AND 0FFA