Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-06-28

CHAPTER XIII.
-13
Holt Frees His Mind.
Macdonald whiried In his tracks.
Old Gid Holt was leaning on his ell
bow with his head out Of the win
dow. "YOu better come and beat me
up first, Mac" he jeered. I'm all
stove up with busted laig, so you can
wallop me good. I'd come out there.
but I'm too crippled to move"
you're not too crippled to 60 back
to Kusiak with me. If you can't walk,
you'll ride. But back you CO."
"Fine. / been worrying about how
to get there. It's right good Of you to
bring one Of these here taxis for me. as
the old sayin' is"
"where have you cached the gold
you stole"
II amt seen the latest papers, Mac.
What Is this stuff about Robin bank
and shootin' Milton?"
you're under arrest for robbery and
murder"
~Am I? Unload the particulars.
When did do it all?"
you know when. Just before you
left town."
Holt shook his head slowly. mo,
sir. can't seem to remember 1t.
Sure II amt some one else you're
thinking about? Howcome you to fix
on me as one of the bold, bad bandits?"
Because you had not sense enough
TO cover your tracks. You might just
as well have left note saying you did
It. First. you come to town and buy
one Of the fastest dog teams In Alaska.
Why3"
I 'sThat's an easy one. bought that
team to win the Alaska sweepstakes
from you. And I'm goin' to do 1t. The
team wasn't handled right or 1t would
have won last time. got to mullin' 1t
over and figured that old Gid Holt was
the dog puncher that could land those
huskies in front. Sect"
"You bought 1t to make your get
nway after the robbery" retorted Mac
donald.
TITS a difference Of opinion makes
horse races. What else have you got
against us?"
I'VE found in your room one Of the
lacks that had held the gold you took
erom the bank"
That's right. I took 1t from the
bank In the afternoon, where I had had
4 on dSbosit, to pay for the team I
bour Il Millions books will show that.
But you didn't ind any sack took
when your bank was robbed-if 1t was
jobbed," added the old man signia-
santly.
SOf course, I knew you would have
y abb. Have you got one to explain
NV You left town 80 suddenly the
NSht the bank was robbed? Milton
&as killed after midnight. Before
Forming you and your friend Elliot
outed out Ackroyd and bought a lot
4 supplies from him for a hurry-up
ZIP. You slipped around to the corral
nd hit the trail right into the blizzard.
NM you tell me why you were in such
J hurry to get away, II 1t wasn't to e.
No from the town where you had
murdered a decent old fellow who
lsver had harmed a soulf'
"Sure I'll tell you" The black eyes
4 the little man snapped eagerly. II
anne 90 p. d. q. because that side pard-
GER Of mine Gordon Elliot wouldn't let
ne wait till mornin'. He had q reason
br leavin' town that wouldn't wait q
tinute, one big enough to drive him
1ght into the heart Of the blizzard. Ne,
)tagged along"
II can guess his reason" jeered the
1cotsman. But I'd like to hear you
ut q name to It"
Holt grinned maliciously and waved
)hand toward the girl who was pillow
hg the head Of her lover. "The name
his reason IL Sheba O'Neill. but It's
b be Sheba Elliot soon. looks like"
You mean"
The little miner took the words TIL
mphantly out Of his mouth. He
eaned forward and threw them into
ne face Of the man he hated. II mean
hat while you was dancin' and philan-
lerin' with other women, Gordon Elliot
Nas buckin' q blizzard to save the life
II the girl you both claimed to love.
He was MUSLIN into fifty miles Of
rosen hell while you was film up
NTH potted grouse and champagne.
pmultaneous with the lame goose and
he monkey singlestep you was dom.
his lad was windjammin' through
yhite drifts. He beat you at your
>wn game. man. You're q bear for
ths outdoor stun, they tell me. You
khsw up Q blizzard for breakfast and
1rottle Q pack Of wolves to work up
IN appetite for dinner. It's your spe-
daily. All right. Take your hat OF
D that chechacko who has Just whaled
you blind. He has outgamed you. Col
oy Macdonald. You don't run in his
lass. ! see he II holding his haid up
again. Give him another half hour and
ben be ready to 60 to the mat with
you again"
The big Alaskan pushed away q fear
that had been lingering in his mind ever
since he had stumbled on that body
buried In the snow yesterday after
noon. Was his enemy going to escape
him. after ALI Could Holt be telling
the true reason why they had left town
20 hurriedlyf He would not let him.
elf believe 1t.
You ought to work up q better story
han that" he said contemptuously.
You can throw q husky throuph the