Gilpin observer., 1918-05-02

nate. He knew . good thing when h
had Il, and he meant to sit tight.
The adherents Of the company might
charge that Holt was cracked in the
upper story, but none Of them denied
he was sharp - q street arab. he
guessed that all this preparation waa
not for nothing. Kamatlah was beinl
dressed mp to impress somebody who
would shortly arrive. The flrst thought
Of Holt was that a group Of big capt.
talists might be coming to look over
their investment. But he rejected this
surmise. There would be no need to
Try any deception upon them.
Mail from Seattle reached camp once
a month. Holt sat down before his
stove to read one Of the newspapers he
had brought from the office. It was
the P.-L On the fifth page was q
little story that gave him his clue.
14dbSE1ED 1zHa5SE TG 1Sy1s75aAnS eozn GeAias
The reopening Of the controversy as
to the Macdonald claims. which had
been clear-listed for patent by Harold
B. Winton. the Commissioner Of the
General Land Office. takes on another
phase with the appointment OF Gordon
Elliot as special field agent to examine
the validity Of the holdings. The new
field agent won reputation by his
work in unearthing the Oklahoma
'Gold Brick" land frauds.
Elliot leaves Seattle In the Queen
City Thursday for the North. where
he will make a thorough Investigation
OF the whole situation with a view to
clearing up the matter definitely. II
his report is favorable to the claimants
the patents will be granted without
further delay.
This was too good to keep. Holt
pulled ON his boots and went out to
twit such Of the enemy as he might
meet. 1t CHANGED that the first Of them
was Selfridge. whom he had not seen
since his arrival, though he knew the
little man was in camp.
"How goes 1t, Holtf Fine and
eh" inquired Wally with the
geniality he affected.
The old miner shook his head dole
fully. II done bust my laig. Mr.. Sci
FISH," he groaned. It was one Of hii
pleasant ways to affect difficulty Of
and q dullness Of understand
ing. 30 that he could legitimately cal
people by distorted versions of theil
names. ''The old man don't amount tc
much nowadays"
Nothing to that, Gid. You're young
er than you ever were, Judging by your
looks"
'Then my looks lie to beat the devil
Mr.. Selfish"
my name IL selfridge." explained
Wally, a trifle irritated.
Holt put q. cupped hand to his eal
"shellnsh. did you say,
Tha' . right. How come I to forget,
The old mans going pretty fast, Mr.
Shellfsh. No more memory than q
jackrabbit. Say. Mr.. Shellfish, what's
the idee Of all this here back-to-the
people movement, a. the old sayin' isf
II don't know what you mean. And
my name 10 Selfridge. tell you"
snapped the owner Of that name.
"'Course amt got no more sense
than the law allows. I'm q buxsard
haid. but me kinder got to millin' II
over and in respect to these here local
az you might say, Tn
doggoned II sahe the whyfof."
"Just some business changes"
Holt showed his tobacco-stained
teeth In a grin splenetic. "Oh. That's
all. didn't know but what you
might be expecting visitor"
Selfridge fiashed o sharp sidelone
glance at him. "What do you mean-s
''I just got notion mebbe you might
be looking for one. Mr.. Pelfrich. Like
as not you amt fixing up for this Cor
don Elliot a-tall."
Wally had no comeback. unless II
was one to retort in ironic admiration
"You're a wonder. Holt. Pity you don't
start detective bureau"
The old man went away cackling.
II Selfridge had held any doubts be.
fore, he discarded them now. Holt
would wreck the whole enterprise
were he given q chance. It would never
do to let Elliot meet and talk with him
he knew too much, and he was eager
to tell all he knew.
Macdonaid's lieutenant got busy at
once with plans to abduct Holt. "We'll
send the old man OF on a prospecting
trip with some Of the boys" explained
Selfridge to Rowland. "That way wen
kill two birds. He's back on his as
sessment work. The time limit will bt
up before he returns and we'll start q
contest for the claim"
Rowland made NO comment. He waf
an engineer and not q politician. In
his position It was impossible for him
not to know that good deal about
the legal status Of the Macdonald
claims was irregular. But he wat
q firm believer In q wide-open Alaska
In the use Of the territory BY those
who had settled II.