The Snowflake herald., 1918-02-01
CHAPTER VI.
WaIIy Gets Orders.

Macdonald, from his desk, looked up
at the man in the doorway. Selfridge
had come in jauntily, a cigar in his
mouth, but at sight of the grim face
of his chief the grin fed.
"COme in and shut the door," ordered
the Scotsman. II sent for you to con.
gratulate you, WalIy. You did fine
work outside. You told me, didn't you,
that it was all settled at last-that our
claims are clear-listed for patentT"
The tubby little man felt the edge
of irony in the quiet voice. "Sure.
That's what Winton told me-" he as
sented nervOusly.
''Then you'll be interested to know
that special agent Of the land de-
partment 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. "Whatr7
Pleasant surprise, isn't it? I've
Deen wondering what you were doing
outside. Of course I 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 q row
about the Guttenchild crowd putting
over big steal on the public that the
party leaders are scared stiff"
1 understand that, Wally. What l
don't get is how you came to let them
slip this over on You without even
guess that it was going to happen"
That phase Of the subject Selfridge
did not want to discuss.
"Bet you hat I've guessed it right
just grand-stand play Of the admin
istratiOn to fool the dear people. This
fellow has got his orders to give us
a 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."
"Yes."
"Well, that's easy. If he hasn't been
seen we can see him."
Macdonald looked his man Friday
over with scarcely yelled contempt.
You've about as much vision as a
breed trader. Unless 1 miss my guess.
Elliot isn't that kind. He'll go through
to finish. If he sees straight we're
all right, but If he is a narrow conser-
vation fanatic he might go ahead and
queer the whole game"
You wouldn't stand for that" The
quick glance of Selfridge asked a uues-
ton.
The lips of the Scotsman were like
steel traps and his eyes points of steel.
wen cross that bridge if we come to
It. Our first move is to try to win him
TO see this thing our way. I'll have a
casual talk with him before he leaves
Tor Kamatlah and feel him out"
What's he doing here at all? If
he's investigating the Kamatlah claims,
why does he go hundreds of miles out
OF his way to come in to Kusiak %
asked Selfridge.
Macdonald smiled sardonically. "He's
doing this job right. Elliot as good as
told me that he's on the job to look up
my record thoroughly. SO he comes to
Kusiak first. In few days he'll leave
for Kamatlah. That's where you come
In, Wally."
"How do you meanY
You're going to start for Kamatlah
tomorrow. You'll arrange the stage
before he gets there-see all the men
and the foremen. Line them up so
they'll come through with the proper
talk. If you have any doubts about
whether you can trust someone, don't
take any chances. Fire him out of the
camp. Offer Elliot the company hos
pitality. Load him down with favors.
Take him everywhere. Show him ev-
erything. But don't let him get any
proofs that the claims are being
worked under the same management"
"But he'll suspect it."
"You can't help his suspicious. Don't
let him get proof. Cover all the tracks
that show company control"
Il can fix that" he said. "But what
about Holt? You know how bitter he
crazy. He ought to be locked
away with the flitter-mice."
"You mustn't let Elliot meet Holt"
"How the deuce can 1 help it? No
chance to keep them apart in that
little hole. 1t can't be DONE"
"Can't itY'
Something in the quiet voice rang
bell Of alarm in the timid heart
of Selfridge.
"You mean"
"A man who works for me as nv
lieutenant must have nerve, WalIy.
Have you got that? Will you take
orders and go through with them"
Wally nodded. His lips were dry.
'GO to it. What am I to do2"