The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-28

snake in the grass, and as such every
decent man ought to hold him in scorn.
Elliot read this just as he was leav-
ing for the Willow Creek camp. He
thrust the paper impatiently into his
coat pocket and swung to the saddle.
Why did they prosecute him? He had
told nothing but the truth, nothing not
required of him by the simplest, ele-
mental honesty. Yet he was treated
as an Outcast and criminal. The in
Justice of it was beginning to rankle.
He was temperamentally an Opti-
mist, but depression rode with him to
the gold camp and did not lift from his
spirits till he started back next day for
Kusiak. The news had been flashed by
wire all over the United States that he
was crook. His friends and relatives
could give no adequate answer to the
fact that an indictment hung over his
head. In Alaska he was already con-
victed by public opinion.
In the late afternoon, while Gordon
was still fifteen miles from Kusia1z,
his horse fell lame. He led it limping
to the cabin of some miners.
There weee three Of them, and they
had been drinking heavily from jug
of whisky left earlier in the day by
the stage-driver. Gordon was in two
minds whether to accept their surly
permission to stay for the night. but
the lameness of his horse decided him.
Not caring to invite their hostility.
he gave his name as Gordon instead of
Elliot. He was to learn within the
hour that this was mistake number
two.
From a pocket of the coat he had
thrown on a bed protruded the news
paper Gordon had brought from XII
siak. One of the men. a big red-head-
ed fellow, pulled it out and began sulk-
lily to read.
While he read the other two bick-
cred and drank and snarled at each
other. All three of tine men were in
that stage of drunkenness when a
quarrel is likely to flare up at a mo-
ment's notice.
'Listen here" demanded the man
with the newspaper. "Tell you what,
boys, Pm going to wiring the neck of
that pussyfooting spy Elliot if ever
get a chanct."
He read aloud the editorial in the
Sun. After he had finished, the 9TH
ers joined him in chorus Of curses.
81 always did hate spy-and this
ones murderer too. Why don't some
one fill his hide with lead?" one of the
men wanted to know.
Redhead was sitting at the table. He
thumped a heavy fist so hard that the
tin cups jumped. "Gimme a crack at
him and I'll show your
A shadow fell across the room. In
the doorway stood a newcomer. Cor
don had sensation as if lump of ice
had been drawn down his spine. For
the man who had just come in was Big
Bill Macy, and he was looking at the
field agent with eyes in which amaze.
ment, anger and triumph blazed.
''Pm glad to death to meet up with
you again, Mr.. Elliot" he jeered
"Seems like old times on Wild-Goose.'
"What you say his name ISL" cut il
the man with the newspaper.
Hasn't he introduced himself
boys?" Macy answered with crue
grin. "NOw, amt that modest of him
You lads are entertaining that we'll
known deteckative and spy, Gordon
Elliot, that renowned king of hold
ups"
The red-headed man interrupted
with howl of rage. EFF you're tellin:
1t straight, Bill Macy, I'll learn him Il
spy on me-"
Elliot was sitting on one of the beds
He had not moved an inch since Mac,
had appeared, but the brain behind hi.
live eyes was taking stock of the stu
alton. Big Bill blocked the doorway
The table EGas in front of the window
Unless he ..ould fight his way out, ther,
was no escape for him. He wa
trapped.
| Quietly Gordon looked from one t,
another.
'Tm not spying on you. My hors
is lame. You can see that for your
self. All I asked was a nights lodg
ing"
"Under another name than your own
you cussed sneak"
The field agent did not understan'
the fury of the man, because he di,
not know that these miners were work
ing the claim under a defective It'll
and that they had jumped to the cor
clusion that he had come to get evl
dence against them. But he knew tina
never in his life had he been in tight
er hole. In another minute they woul
attack him. Whether : it would ru
to murder he could not tell, At tn
best he would be hammered helpless.
But no evidence Of this knowledg
appeared in his manner.
II didn't give my last name becaus
there is prejudice against me in thi
country" he explained in an eve
voice.
He wondered as he spoke if he ha
better try to fling himself through tn
window sash. There might be n
mote chance that he could make 1t.
The miner at the table killed thi
possibility by rising and standin
sQuarely in the road.