The Dolores star., 1918-06-07
cnAPrGR XVI.


-4-
Gordon spends q Buoy Evening
Paset smoked plaeidly. but the heart
n Selfridge had made up his mind to
frame Gordon for q prison sentence.
The worst Of It was that he need NOT
invent any evidence or take any
chances. n Macdonald came through
on the stand with an Identification Of
Hliot a. one Of his assailants. the
young man would 90 down the river
% serve time. There was enough cor
Foborative testimony to convict 81.
Peker himself.
TIN Just telling you what he said.
Diane explained. .And It worried me.
His smile was cynical. couldn't help
thinking that II he wants to get even
with Gordon"
4rA. Paget stopped. The maid had
5ust brought into the room q visitor.
Diane moved forward and shook hands
with him. How do you do. Mr..
0tTooGf Take this big chair"
Hanford Strong accepted the chair
and cigar. He came promptly to the
s63ecs Of his call.
Il don't know whether this II where
] should have come or not. Are you
folks for y0ang Elliot or are you for
0eaf5ideer. hs demanded.
IF you put II that way, we're for El-
oet." smiled Peter.
IAN right Let mo put Il another
NV. You WORK for Mac. Arc you ON
his side or on Elliot's In this matter Of
ths coal ciaimsT
Diane looked at Peter. He took his
elsDe 10 answer.
I'VE hops the coal claimants win
win. but we've got sense enough to
- that Gordon 10 in here to report
tAe facts. That's what he u paid for.
Hen tell the truth a. he sses Il. II
o1s superior omcers decide on those
facts against Macdonald, don't zee
eAat Elliot is to blame.r
THAT'S how Il looks to me-" agreed
0trou&. I'm for wide-open Alasta.
out Mat don't make Il right to put thl0
youug fellow through for q crime he
11dn't do.g Fact n. I like him. Hes
esNara. % I've come to tell you some
t11ak.s 5-s.
Hs smoked for minute silently BE-
osse he continued.
Tive got NO evidence in his favor,
ut I bumped Into something q little
while ago that didn't look good to me.
1ou know room next him ut the ho-
tsl I heard q noise In his room, and
] thought that was funny. seeing a. he
Wns locked up In jail. 30 I kinder
ostsnod and heard whispers and the
sound o9 some one moving about.
Thessss . door between his room and
mine that 10 kept locked. I looked
through the keyhole. and in Elliot'a
room there was wally Sslfrides and
another man. They were looking
through papers at the desk. Wally
put stack Of them In his pocket and
thsy want out. locking the door behind
ehsm.s
They had NO business doing that
burst out Diane. swally Selfridge isn't
On o@cee Of the law"
Strong nodded dryly to her. "Just
what ! thought 30 I followed them.
They went to Macdonald's onlcea. A.
tsr while Wally came out and left the
ether man there. Then presently the
lights went out. The man 10 camped
there for the night. VIII you tell me
whys"
-whys" repeated Diane with her
shArp eyes on tho miner.
"Because Wally has some papers
there he don't want b get away from
him."
! '.soms Of Gordons papers. Of
COURSE
you've said It"
.AN his notes and evidence in the
case Of the coal claims, probably con-
tributed Peter.
.Hsybe. Wslly has stolen them. but
be hasn't nerve enough to burn them
dll he get1 orders from Mac. 60 he's
holding them. safe at tho once"
guessed strong.
'It's In outrage"
"eureGt thing you know. Wally has
axed It b frame him for prison and to
play safe about his evidence ON the
coal claims.s
"What are you going to do about
ifr Diane asked her husband sharply,
Peter rose. "First I'm going to see
Gordon and hear what he has to say.
Come on. Strong. We may bs gone
quite . while. Diane. Don't wadt mp
for mo II you get through your stint
Of nursing."
Gopher Jones let them into the RAM
shackle building that served N a jail,
and after thFes dollars had jingled in
the palm Of his hand he stepped out
alde and left the men alone with his
prisoner. The three put their heads
together and whispered.
TN meet you outside the houss Of
os2fridgs IN half an hour. Strong" was
dc last thing that Gordon said before
Jeo4p came back 30 order out the vis-
ltneA
A. sooa e ths paaes was dark asaia.