Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-04-04

shouldn't wonder. Now If you'll just
cover friend chef with this sawed-off
gat, Elliot, I'll throw the diamond
hitch over what supplies Wen need to
get back to Kamatlah. I'll take one
bronch and leave the other to the con-
vlcts," said Holt cheerfuly.
"Forget that convict stuff" growled
Macy. "With Macdonald back Of us
and the Guttenchilds back of him,
you'll have a hectic time getting. any
thing on u.s."
"That might be true If these folks
were back Of you. But are they?
CoursevI amt any Sherlock Holmes,
but it don't look to me like they'd play
any such fool system as this"
After Holt had packed one Of the
animals he turned to Elliot.
II reckon we're ready"
Under orders from Elliot bud fixed
up the smudges and arranged the mos
quito netting over the bound men so
as to give them all the protection pos
sible.
"We're going to take bud with US
for part of the trip. Wen send him
back to you later in the day. You'll
have to fast till he gets back, but out
side of that you'll do very well If you
don't roll around trying to get loose.
Do that, and you'll jar loose the mos
quito netting. You know what that
MEANS" explained Gordon.
ut amt likely any grizzlies will
come pokin' their noses into camp. But
you never can tell. Any last words
you want sent to relatives?" asked
Gideon Holt.
The last words they heard from Big
Bill as they moved down the draw
were sulphuric.
1t was three o'clock In the morning
by the watch when they started. About
nine they threw off for breakfast. By
this time they were just across the
divide and were ready to take the
| down trail.
Il think wen let bud go now" Ell
| Hot told his partner In the adventure.
BETTER hold him till afternoon. Then
they can't possibly reach US till we
| get to Kamatlah."
what does 1t matter If they dor
We have both rifles and have left them
only one revolver. Besides, l don't
like to leave two bound men alone in
so wild a district for any great time.
No, We'll start bud on the back trail.
That grizzly you promised Big Bill
might really turn up"
The two men struck the headwaters
Of Wild Goose creek about noon and
followed the stream down. They trav-
eled steadily without haste. So long
as they kept a good lookout there was
nothing to be feared from the men
they had left behind. They had both
long start and the advantage of
weapons.
If Elliot had advertised for year
he could not have found a man who
knew more Of Colby Macdonald's past
than Gideon Holt. The old man had
worked claim on Frenchman creek
with him and had by sharp practice
so at least he had come to believe
been lawed out Of his rights by the
shrewd Scotsman. For seventeen years
he had nursed a grudge against Mac
donald, and he was never tired of talk
ing about him. One story in particu-
lar interested Gordon.
There was Farrell O'Neill. He was
a good fellow, Farrell was, but he had
| just one weakness. There was times
when he liked the bottle too we'll. He'd
let 1t alone for months and then lust
lap the stun up. 1t was the time of
the stampede to Bonanza creek. Well
the news of the strike on Bonanza
reached Dawson and we all burnt up
the trail to get to the new ground
first O'Neill was one of the first. He
got In about twenty below Discovery
if remember. Mac wasn't in Dawson
but he got there next mo'nin' and
heard the news. He Lit out for Bo.
nanza pronto."
The old miner stopped, took a chew
OF tobacco, and looked down into the
valley far below where Kamatlah
could just be seen, a little huddle OF
huts.
"Well?" asked Elliot. 1t was occa
sionally necessary to prompt Holt
when he paused for his dramatic ef
fects.
Mac drops in and joins O'Neill al
night. They knew each other, v m
derstand, so O. course it was natural
Mac would put up at his camp. O'Neil
had a partner and they had located
together. Fellow named Strong"
he can put 1t across when he's a mind
to. He's a forceful devil, and he can
be mighty likable one. But when he
Is friendliest you want to watch out
he don't slip an uppercut at you thatIl
put you out Of biz. He done that to
Farrell-and done 1t a-plenty."
"HowT
"ONeill got mellowed up till he
thought Mac was his best friend. He
was ready to eat out of his hand. So
Mac works him up to sign a contract
before witnesses too; trust Mac for
that-exchanging his half interest in
the claim for five hundred dollars In
cash and Macs no-count lease on
frenchman creek. Inside of a week
Mac and Strong struck a big pay
streak. They took over two hundred
thousand from the spring cleanup"
1T was nothing better than rob-
berry"
Call 1t what you want to. Anyhow