THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
UKON TPAIL
eWIL MAM MacLEOD RAINB
Copyright, 107, by William MaoLod Rtlnc
CHAPTER XXIII.
13
Holt Frees Hit Mind.
Mncdonnld whirled In his tracks.
Old Qld Holt was leaning on his cl
bow with his head out of tho win
dow. "You better come and beat me
tip first Mac," he Jeered. "I'm all
etovo up with a busted lalg, so you can
wallop ma good. I'd como out there,
but I'm too crippled to move."
"You're not too crippled to go back
to KiiRlnk with me. If you can't walk,
you'll ride. But back you go."
"Fine. I been worrying about how
to get there. It's right good of you to
bring one of these hero taxis for me, as
tho old sayln' Is."
"Where havo you cached tho gold
you stole?"
"I ain't seen tho latent papers, Mac.
What Is this stuff about robbln' a bank
and shoo tin Milton?"
"You'ro under arrest for robbery and
murder."
"Am I? Unload tho particulars.
When did I do It all?"
"You know when. Just before you
left town."
Holt shook bis head slowly. "No,
elr. I can't scorn to remember It.
Sure It ain't some ono clso you'ro
thinking nbout? Howcomo you to fix
on me ns ono of tho bold, bad bandits?"
"Because you hnd not senso enough
to cover your tracks. You might Just
as well have left a note saying you did
It First, you como to town and buy
ene of the fastest dog teams In Alaska.
Why?"
"That's an easy one. I bought that
team to win tho Alaska sweepstakes
from yon. And I'm goln to do it Thq
team wasn't handled right or It would
have won last time. I got to mullln' It
aver and figured that old GId Tlolt was
the dog puncher that could land those
huskies in front. Seo?"
"You bought It to make your got
away after the robbery," retorted Mnc
donald. "It's a difference of opinion makes
korso races. What else have you got
against us?"
"We found In your room ono of tho
nacks that had held tho gold you took
from tho bank."
That's right. I took It from the
bank In tho afternoon, whero I had had
It on deposit, to pay for the team I
bought. Milton's books will show that.
But you didn't find any sack I took
when your bank was robbed If It was
robbed," added tho old man 'signifi
cantly. "Of course, I know you would havo
an alibi. Havo you got ono to explain
why you left town so suddenly tho
night tho bank was robbed? Milton
was killed after midnight. Before
morning you and your friend Elliot
routed out Ackroyd and bought a lot
of supplies from him for a hurry-up
trip. You slipped areund to tho corral
ana hit the trail right into tho blizzard.
Will you tell me why you wore In such
a hurry to get away, If It wasn't to es
capo from tho town where you had
murdered a decent old fellow who
sever had harmed a soul?"
"Sure Til tell you." Tho black eyes
of the little man Bnapped eagerly. "I
came so p. d. q. because that sido pard
aer of mine Gordon Elliot wouldn't lot
me wait till mornln'. lie had a reason
for leavin' town that wouldn't wait a
minute, one big enough to drive him
' right Into the heart of the blizzard. Me,
I tagged along."
1 can guess his reason," jeered tho
Scotsman. "But I'd like to hear you
put a namo to it"
, Holt grinned maliciously and waved
a hand toward tho girl who was pillow
ing the head of her lover. "Tho namo
f hlBVeason Is Sheba O'Neill, but it's
to be Sheba Elliot soon, looks like."
'Yqu mean"
The little miner took the words tri
umphantly out of his mouth. ITo
leaned forward and throw them Into
tho faco of tho man ho hated. "I mean
that while you was dancln' and phllnn
derln with other "women, Gordon Elliot
was buckln' a blizzard to savo tho life
ef tho girl you both claimed to love,
Ho was muRhln' into fifty miles of
frozen hell while you was flllln' up
with potted grouso and champagne.
Simultaneous wltli the lamo gooso and
tho monkey slnglestcp you was doln',
this lad wa wlndjnmmlh' through
white drifts. He beat you at your
lawn game, man. You'ro n bear for
the outdoor stuff, they tell me. You
feliew hp a blizzard for breakfast and
throttle a pack of wolves to work up
an appetlto for dlnucr. It's your spe
cialty. All right. Take your hat off
to that chechocko who has Just whaled
you blind. Ho has outgnmed you, Col
by Macdoaald. You don't run In his
class, I seo lie is holding his huld up
again. 04vo him another half-hour and
he'll be ready to go to the mat with
you again."
The big Alaskan pushed away a fear
that had been lingering In his mind ever
aince he bad stumbled on that body
burled In the snow yesterday after
noon. Was his enemy going to escape
him, after all? Could Holt bo tolling
Ike truo rcitpon why they had left town
so hurriedly? Ho would not let him
rSelf believe it
"You ought to work vp n better story
than that" llO Hnld rontnmntnnnalir
"You can throw n huHky through the
noies in it. jjow could Elliot know,
for Instance, that Miss O'Neill was not
safe?"
"Tho samo wny you could n' known
It" snapped old Gideon. "Ho phoned
to Smith's Crossln' and" found tho
stngo hadn't got In and that thero was
a whnlo of n storm up in tho hills."
Mncdonnld set his face. "You'ro
lying to me. You stumbled over the
stngo whllo yon were making your get
away. Now you'ro nlnvlnc it tnr nn
- m r o " MM
alibi."
Elliot had risen. Rhohn ntnnd hadIn
him, her hnnd In his. Sho spoke quietly.
"ii s ino trutn. Mellovo It or not ns
you plense. Wo caro nothlne nbout
thnt"
ThO fltnll Of JirP OVPO tllrt nnntnim
tho slim, pliant flguro wllh its sugges
tion or iino gallantry, challenged her
former lover to do his worst
On .tho battered faco of Gordon was
a smile. So long no his Irish sweet
heart stood bv him ho iiii nnt pnrn If
ho wcro charged with' high treason. It
was worth an it cost to feel tho
warmth of hor brnvo, impulslvo trust
Tho deep-set eyes of Mncdonnld
clinched with thoso of his rival. "You
cached tho rest of thn rrnid. t
ho said doggedly.
With a lilt Of MtJ fihmilrWa ,
younger man answered lightly: "Thero
nro nono BO blind nn thnnn xrhn mill nnf
seo, Mr. Mncdonnld." Ho turned to
Sheba. "Como. Wo mnst mnkn tirnnir.
fast"
"You'ro COlnc to Knnlnlr vllh ma-
his enemy snld bluntly.
"After wo havo eaten, Mr. Macdon
ald," returned Elliot with nn Ironic
bow. "Perhaps, if you havo not had
breakfast yet, you will Join us."
"Wo start in half nn hour," an
nounced tho mine-owner curtly, and ho
turned on his heel.
Tho rlflo lay whero Sheba had
dropped It when Bho ran to gathor her
stricken lover Into her arms. Mncdon
nld picked it up and strodo ovor tho
brow of tho hill without a backward
look, no was too proud to Btny and
watch them. It to Imposslblo to cs
copo him In tho deep snow thnt filled
tho hill trolls, nnd ho was convinced
they would attempt nothing of tho
kind.
Tho Scotsmnp. felt for tho first tlmo
In his Hfo old nnd spent Under tre
mendous dlfllculty ho hnd mushed for
two dnys nnd had at last run his men
down. Tho lust of vengeance hnd sat
on his shoulders overy mllo of tho way
and hnd driven him feverishly for
ward. But tho salt that hnd lent n
savor to his passion was gono. Even
though ho won, ho lost For Sheba had
gono over to tho enemy.
With tho florco willfulness of his
temperament ho tried to tread under
foot his doubts about tho guilt of Holt
and Elliot Success hnd made him
arrogant and ho was not a good loser.
Sheba Had Qono Over to the Enemy.
ne hated the man who hnd robbed him
of Sheba, but ho could not cscupo re
specting him, Elliot had fought until
ho had been hninmcrcd down into un
consciousness nnd he hnd crawled to
his feet and stood erect with tho smile
of tho unconqucred on his Hps. Wns
this tho sort of man to murder In cold
blood a kindly old centlcmun who had
never harmed him?
Tho only answer Mncdonnld found
was that Milton had taken him and
his partner' by surprise, Thoy hnd
been driven to shoot tho cashier to
coyer up their crime. Perhaps Holt or
another bad fired tho actual shots, but
Elliot was nono tho less guilty. Tho
heart of tho Scotsman was bitter
within him. Ho Intended to seo that
his enemies paid to the Inst ounce. Ho
would hurry thorn to tho gallows if
money nnd Influence could do It
Nono the less, his loubts persisted.
If they had planned tho bank rnhh orv
why did they wait so long to buy sup
plies ror tneir cscnpo? Why hnd they
not taken tho river instead of tho hill
trail? Tho story that his enemies told
hung together. It had tho ring of
truth. Tho facts supported It
Ono piece of evidence In their fnvor
Mncaonnid mono know. It Iny burled
Id tho deep snows of the hills. Ho
shut his strong teeth In tho firm re
solve that It should stay there.
The weather had moderated a good
deal, but tho trail was a protected
forest one. Tho two teams now going
uown una como up, so that the path
was packed fairly hard nnd smooth
Holt lay propped on his own sled
ugninst the slceplng-bngs. Shebn
mushed behind Gordon. Sho chatted
with tUem both, but Ignored entirely
tno existence or Mncdonnld, who fol
lowed with his prize-winning Slberlun
clogs.
Though sho tried not to let her lover
know It, Sheba wns troubled nt heart
Gordon was practically tho prisoner of
a man who hated him bitterly, who be
lieved him guilty of murder, nnd who
would go through firo to bring punish
ment nomo to him. Sho knew tho
power of Mncdonnld. With tho money
oncK or mm, no Had for two yenrs
fought against nnd almost prevailed
over a strong public opinion in tho
United States, no wns as masterful In
his hatred as In his love. Tho dominant,
iignting iiguro in tho Northwest ho
trod his sturdy wny through opposition
1 1 ico n Colossus.
Nor did sho any longer hnvo nny
illusions nnout mm. He could bo both
ruthless nnd unscrupulous when it
suited his purpose. As tho day wore
toward noon, her spirits drooped. Sho
wns tired physically, nnd this reacted
upon her courage.
Tho warmer weather was spolllne
tho trail. It becamo so soft nnd mushy
tnnt xnoTxm snowshoes wcro needed.
they could not bo worn on nccount of
tho henvy snow which clung to them
overy tlmo a foot wna lifted. They
woro mnkluks, but Sheba was wet to
tho knees. Tho spring had gono from
her step. Her shoulders begnn to sag.
For somo tlmo Gordon's eye had
been seeking n good placo for a day
enmp. no round it in a bit of open
timoer nnove tno trail, and without a
word ho swung his tenra from tho path.
"Whero aro you going?" demanded
Mncdonald.
"Going to rest for an hour." was El
liot's curt answer.
Mncdonnld's Jaw clamped. Ho strode
forward through the snow besldo the
trail. "We'll seo about thnt"
, Tho younger mnn fnced him nngrlly.
"Can't yon seo aho Is dono, mnn? Thero
is not another mile of travel In her un
til sho has rested."
The hard, gray eyes of tho Alaskan
took In tho Blender, wenry flguro lean
ing ngnlnst tho sled. On a soft and
mushy trail llko this, whero every
footstep punched n holo in tho loose
snow, tho dogs could not trnved with
any extra weight A few miles fnrther
down thoy would como to n mnln-trnv-eled
road nnd tho going would bo bet
ter. But till then sho must wnlk. Mnc
donnld gave wny with n gesturo of his
hnnd and turned on his heel.
At tho cnmpflro Shebn dried her
mukluks, stockings, cnrlbou mitts nnd
short skirts. Too tired to eat, sho
forced herself to swallow a few bites
and drank eagerly somo tea. Gordon
had brought blankets from tho sled
and he persuaded her to lie down for
a few minutes.
"You'll call mo soon if I should
sleep," sho said drowsily, and her oyes
were closed almost beforo tho words
wero off her Hps.
When Macdonnld enmo to order tho
start half an hour later, she was still
asleep. "Glvo her another thirty min
utes," ho said gruffly.
Youth is resilient Sheba awoke
rested and rendy for work.
Whllo Gordon was untangling tho
dogs sho was left alono for a mlnuto
with tho mine-owner.
The hungry look in his eyes touched
her. Impulsively sho held out her
hnnd.
"You'ro going to bo fair, aren't you,
Mr. Mncdonald? Bccnuso you don't
llko him you won't ?"
Ho looked straight into tho dark,
appealing oyes, "I'm going to bo fair
to Robert Milton," ho told her harsh
ly. "I'm going to seo his murderers
hnnged If it costs mo every dollar I
hnvo in tho world."
"Nono of us objects to Justice," sho
told him proudly. "Gordon has noth
ing to fear If only tho truth is told."
"Then why como to mo?" ho de
manded. Sho hesitated; then with a wistful
Httlo smllo, spoko what wa3 In her
henrt "I'm afraid you won't do jus
tice to yourself. You'ro good and
brnvo and strong. But you'ro very
willful nnd set I dont want to loso
my friend. I want to know that he is
all I havo believed nlm a great man
who stands for tho things that aro fine
and clean nnd Just"
"Then It is for my sake nnd not for
his that you want mo to drop tho caso
ngnlnst Elliot?" ho asked ironically.
"For yours and for his, too. You
can't hurt him. Nobody can really bo
hurt from outside: not unless ho Is n
traitor to himself. And Gordon EHIot
Isn't that Ho couldn't do such a
thing ns this with which you chnrgo
htm. It Ib not in his nature. Ho can
explain everything."
"I don't doubt that He and his
friend Holt nro great Httlo explainers."
In eplte of his bitterness Sheba felt
u change in him. Sho seemed to
havo a gllmpso of hla turbid soul en
gaged In battle, no turned nwny with
out slinking hands, but It struck her
that he wns not Implacable.
While they wero nt luncheon half a
dozen pnckmulcs lnden with supplies
for n telephone construction line out
fit hnd passed. Their small, sharp-shod
hoofs hud punched sink-holes In tho
trnl nt every step. Instead of n
smooth bottom tho dogs found a
slushy bog cut to pieces.
At tho end of nn hour of wallowing
Mncdonald culled a halt
"There Is n cutoff Just below here.
It will snvo us nearly two miles, but
we'll havo to break trail. Swing to tho
right Just below tho big willow," he
told Elliot "I'll Join you presently
nnd relievo you on tho Job. But first
Miss O'Neill nnd I nro going for a lit
tle side trip."
All three of them looked at htm fn
sharp surprise. Gordon opened his
lips to answer nnd closed them again
without speaking. Sheba had flashed
a warning to him.
"I hopo this trip isn't very fnr off
me trail," sno sam quietly. "I'm Just
n wee bit tired."
"It's not fnr," tho mine-owner snld
curtly.
no wns busy nnnncklna- his nlod
Presently ho found tho dog moccasins
for which ho had been looking, re
packed his sled, nnd fitted the shoes
to the bleeding feet of the team lend
er. Elliot. SUSPICIOUS and lincprtnln
what to do, watched him at work, but
nt n signal from Shebn tin-nod re
luctantly away and drove down to the
cutoff.
Mncdonnld turned his cWa nnf nt thn
trail nnd followed a Httlo ridge for
pcrhnps a qunrter of n mile. Sheba
trudged behind him. Sho wns full of
wonder nt what ho mennt to dn. hut
she asked no questions. Somo wise In
stinct was telling her to do exuetly as
no saia.
From tho sled ho took n shovel nnd
gnvo It to tho Toune- woman. unii inat
this side of tho big rock closo to tho
root of the tree," ho told her.
Shebn dug. nnd nt the second strniro
of the spnde struck "something hard.
Ho stooped and pulled out n sack.
"Open It," ho said. "Itlp it with
this knife."
Sho rnn tho knlfo alone th
weave of tho cloth. Fifteen or twenty
smaller sacks lay exnosed. Rhohn
looked un at Macdonnld.
question In her eyos.
Ho nodded. "Yon iraessprt it. Thia
Is pnrt of the gold for which. Robert
Milton wns murdered."
"But how did It cet hero?"
"I buried It thero yesterdny. Come."
no led her around the rnrir. Tin Mr
of It lay something over which wns
niircmi n long on or ennvns. Tho heart
of Shebn wns beating wildly.
xno Scotsman looked at her from a
rock-bound face. "TJndornonth thin
ennvns Is tho body of ono of th n mnn
who murdered Milton. Ho died more
miserably thnn tho mnn he shot Hnlf
the gold stolen from tho bank Is In
thnt gunnysnck von hnvo Inst lni nn
If you'll tell mo who has tho other
nair, ril tell you who helped him rob
tho bank."
"This mnn who Is ho?" nnirpd Rhn.
bn, almost in a whisper. Sho was trem
bling with excitement nnd nervous
ness. Mncdonnld drew hnek thn olnth nnd
showed tho rough, hard face of n work
lngmnn. "His namo wns Trelnwnev. T lrlrlfnd
him out of our camps becauso ho was
a troublemaker."
"Ho was ono of tho men thnt rohhpd
you later I" Bho exclaimed.
"Yes. And now ho has tried to rob
me again and has nnld for it with his
life."
Her mind Unshed hnrtr river tlio nnnt.
"Then his nnrtnor In thin Innt rrlmn
must havo been tho some man what's
hla nnmoT that was with him last
time."
"Northmn." TTo nnrtdod nlnnrtv. "T
hato to bellove it, but it is probably
true. And ho, too, is lying somewhere
In this park covered with snow if our
guess is right"
"And Gordon yon admit ho didn't
do it?"
Again ho nodded, sulkily. "No. Ho
didn't do It"
Joy lilted In her voice. "So von'vo-
brought mo hero to tell me. Oh, I nm
glad, my friend, that you wcro so good.
And It Is llko you to do It You havo
always been tho good friend to mo."
Tho Scotsman smiled, a Httlo wist
fully. "You tnko n mean ndvantnge of
a man. You nurse him when he's 111
and nro kind to him when ho Is well
and try to love him, though he is twlco
your ago nnd more. Then, when his
enemy Is In his power, ho finds ho
enn't strlko him down without striking
von too. Tnkn vnnr vrmanir mnn. Rhohn
O'Neill, nnd marry him, nnd for God's
snuo, get mm out of Alnska beforo I
como to grips with him again. I'm
not a Ttattent mnn. nnd he's tried nm
Bnlr. They say I'm n good hntcr, nnd I
always tnougnt it true, uut wiint's
tho uso of hating a mnn, when your
soft nrms nro round him for an
armor?"
Tho flno eyes of the girl wero wolls
of warm light Her gladness wns not
for herself nnd her lover only, but for
tho friend that had been so nearly
lost and was now found. Ho believed
he had dono It for her, but Sheba was
sure his reasons iny deeper. Ho was
too much of a man to hide evidence
and let his rival bo falsely uccuscd of
murder. It was not in him to do n
chenn thins llko thnt When it enmo
to tho pinch, ho wns too decent to stab
in tno uacic uut suo was wllllntr to
tnko him on his own ground.
"I'll always bo thunklng you for your
goodness to me," Bho told him simply.
no brushed that nsldo nt
once. !
Ttl
Thoro's ono thing more, lass. I'll
likely not o seeing you ngaln nlono,
so I'll say It now. Don't wasto nny
tears on Colby MaedDnnttL Don't
fancy any story-book fooUshnts nbout
SDolllnir his Ufa. That nmv la truo cf
hnlfllng boys, mnyb?, but a mnn goes-
ins nin gnit even vmcn no gets a bit
fncer."
"Yes," sho ngrccd. And In n flash
sho snw what would happen, that in
tho rcnctlon from his depression ho
would turn to Gcnovlevo Mnllory and
murrv her.
"You're too young for me, nnyhow
too soft and Innocent Onco you told
mo thnt you couldn't keep step with
me. It's true. You enn't. It wns a
dnft dream."
no took n deep brenth, seemed to
shnko himself out of It and smiled
cheerfully unon her.
"We'll put our trensuro-trovo on tho
Bleu nnu go bnck to your friends," ho
continued briskly. "Tomorrow I'll send
men up to scour tho hills for North-
rup's body."
Shebn drew the ennvns bnck over tho
fnco of the dead mnn. As she follnwod
Macdonnld back to the trail, tears filled
her eyes. Sho was remembering that
tho white, stlnelnir denth thnt hnd
crept upon these men so swiftly had
missed ner ny n hair's brendth. The
Strontr. lllStv life hnd heen ntrlr-kon
out of tho big Cornlshmnn nnd prob
nbly of his pnrtner In crime. Perhnps
they hnd left mothers or wives or
sweethearts to mourn them.
Mncdonnld relieved Elliot nt hrrnU
Ing trail nnd the young man went bnck
to tho gee-pole. They had discarded
mukluks and wore moccasins nnd
snowshoes. It wns hnrd, slow work,
for tho trnll-brenker hnd to fight his
wny through snow nlong the best route
ne couia nnu. The moon wns high
when nt last they reached tho road
nouse.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Dlano Changes Her Mind.
The news of Sheba'B safety
been tcleDhoned to Dlnne from
had
the
rondhouse, so thnt nil tho fnmlly from
i'ctcr down were on the porch to wel
como her with mlntrlcd teurs nnd
kisses. Since Gordon hnd to nush on
to tho hospltnl to hnvo Holt taken caro
or, it was Macdonnld who brought the
girl home. The mine-owner declined
rather brusquely nn Invitation to stay
to uinner on the plen thnt ho hnd bush
ncss nt tho office which would not wnlt
Impulsively Shebn held out both her
nanus to mm. "Believe me, I nm thank
ing you with the whole of my henrt
my friend. And I'm praying for you
the old Irish blessing, 'God savo you
kindly.' "
The deep-set. rnnaclous eves of tho
bcotsman burned Into hers for nn In
stant Without n word he released her
hands and turned nwny.
Her eyes followed him, a vital, dyna
mlc American who would do big, law
less things to tho dny of his death
She sighed. He had been n crcnt He
uro in her life, nnd now ho had passed
out of It
As soon as she was alono with Dl
nne, her Irish cousin dropped tho Httlo
Domn sne had up her sleeve.
"I'm going to bo married Thursday,
Ul."
Mrs. Paget embraced her for the
tenth tlmo within an hour. She
very fond of Sheba, nnd she hnd been
on n great strain concerning her safety.
Thnt out of her dnnirer had resulted
the cngngement Dlnne had hoped for
was surplusage of good luck.
"You lucky, sensible girl."
Sheba assented demurely. "I do
think I'm sensible ns well ns lucky. It
Isn't overy girl that knows tho right
man for her even when ho wants her.
But I know nt Inst He's tho man for
mo out of ten mllllon.v
"I'm Bure of It, dear. Oh, I am bo
glad." Dlano hugged her again. Sho
couldn't help It
"One gets to know a mnn pretty
well on a trip llko that I wouldn't
chango mine for nny ono thnt wns ever
made. I like everything nbout him, Dl.
I am tho happiest girl."
"I'm so glod you see It that way at
last" Diane passed to tho practical
aspect of tho situation. "But Thurs
day. Will that give ns time, my dear?
And who aro you going to have here?"
"Just the family. I've Invited two
guests, but neither of them rnn onmn
One has n broken leg and tho other
snys ho doesn't want to seo mo mar
ried to nnother mnn," Sheba explained
with a smile.
"So Gordon won't come."
"Yes. nc?ll have to bo
here. Wo
tho bride
legal mar-
can't get along without
groom. It wouldn't bo n
rlnge. would It?"
Dlano looked nt her. for tho tnnmont
dumb. "You- Httlo wretch I" sho
out at lust "So It's Gordon, Is It?
Are you quite sure this' time? Not
likely to chnnjro your mind Imfnm
Thursday?"
"I suppose, to nn outsider. I dn coom
fickle," Miss O'Neill admitted smlllqg-
ly. "uut uoraon ana i both under
stand thut"
"And Colby Mncdonnld does he nn.
derstnnd it too?"
"Oh, yes." Her smile grew broader.
"Ho tohl mo thnt -he didn't think i
would qulto suit hlra, nfter nil. Not
enough experience for tho place."
Dlano Unshed n suspicious look of
Inquiry. "Of course that's nonsense.
What did he tell you?"
"Somethlnc like that He will mnm
Mrs. Mnllory, I think, though he doesn't
know It yet."
"You mean she will get him on the
rebound," snld Dlano bluntly.
"That Isn't n nlco wny to put It. Ho
hns nlwnys liked her very much. Ho
Is fond of her for what sho Is. wimt
attracted him in mo wcro tho things
his imagination gave to me."
"And Gordon likes
ypu. I eunnnqo
for what you aro?"
Sheba did not resent the lit tin nnf
of friendly sarcasm. "I suppose ho
lino lila nnloa nhniif itia 1
tho tlmo he finds out what I nm he'U
hnvo to put up with ne."
The nrrlvnl of EUk ' Int rruoted rnn.
fidenecs
He hud cou bo said, to re
celvo congratulate cs.
"Whnl In tho world hnvo yon bc8
doing with your fnco?" demanded Dl
nne. as nn nueriHougnt suo nuceu:
"Mr. Mncdonnld is all cut up too."
"We've been taking mnssngo treat
ment" Gordon pnsscd to n subject of
more Immediate Interest "Do I get
my congratulations, Dl?"
Sho kissed him, too, for old soke's
sake. "I do believe you'll Bult Sheba
better than Colby Macdonnld would,
ne's v grcnt mnn nnd you nrq not. But
It Isn't everybody thnt Is fit to bo the
wife of n grent mnn."
"That's n double, lef t-hnnded coropll
ment," laughed Gordon. "But you can't '
say anything thnt will hurt my feelings
today, Dl. Isn't thnt your baby I hoar
crying? What a heartless mother yoa
aro!"
Dlano gave him the fow minutes
alone with Sheba that his gay smile
had asked for. "Got out with you,"
sho said, laughing. "Go to tho top of
tho hill nnd look nt the lovers' moon
I've ordered there expressly for voni
Time.
and while you nro there forget thnt
there nre going to bo crying babies
and nurscmnlds with cvenlncs out in
that golden future of yours."
"Como nlong. Sheba. We'll start now
on tho golden trail," said Elliot
She walked as If sho Invpd It. TTo
long, slender legs moved rhythmlcnlly
and her nrms swung true as pendu
lums. The moon was nil thnt Dlnne hnd
promised. Sheba drank it In happily.
I bellevo I must ho n nnenn. T lnv
tho sun and the moon nnd I know It's
all true about the little folk nnd tha
pled piper and "
"If it's Dacnnlsm to he In lnvn with
the world, you are n thirty-third degree
pagan."
"Well, nnd wnn thprA nmr n mnm
benutlful night beforo?"
He thought not. but ho hnd nnt tha
words to tell her thnt for him Its
beauty lay largely in her presence. Her-
passionnte lovo of things flno and
bravo transformed tho universe for
him. It wns enough for him to be nenr
her, to henr the Inughter bubbling In
her thront, to touch her crisp, blue-.
block" hair ns he ndlnsfod tho
nbout her head.
"God made the nleht" ho rontid.
"So that's a Christian thought ns well
ns n pngan one."
They were no excontlon tn thn mi
that lovers are egoists. Tho world for
them tonight divided Itself .into two
classes. Ono included Rhohn n'Nnin
and Gordon Elliot: thn
y w luyu au
the uninteresting remnant of hnmnnifv
No matter how far afield their talk be
gan, it always camo back to them
selves. They wanted to know nil about
each other, to comparo experiences
nnd points of view. But tlmo fled too
fust for words. They talked as lovers
will to the end of time In exclama
tions nnd the meeting of eyes and lit
tle endearments.
When Diana and Peter fonnd thom
on tho hillside, Sheba protested, with
her hnlf-shy, half-audacious smile, that
It could not be two hnnnt nlncn aha
and Gordon hnd left tho living room.
rerer grinneu. Ho remembered n hill
top consecrated to his own courtship
of Dlnne.
Tho only weddlnir present thnt Mn.
donald sent Shebn wns n long envelopo
with two documents nttnehpd
One wns from tho Kuslnk Sun. It an
nounced thnt the Beurch party had
found tho body of Northrun with tha
rest of the stolen gold besldo him. Tho
other wns n copy of a legal document
Its effect wns that the district nttnrnnv
hnd dismissed all chnrirea
against Gordon Elliot.
Although Mncdonnld Inst
claims at Kninntlnh bv rpnsnn nt tha
report of Elliot, all Alaska still be
lieves that ho was right In that coun-.
try of strontr men he stnndn imn,i on
- --.. ,.UM
shoulders above his fellows, no has
tho fortunnte clfr of commnndimr h
ndmlratlon of friend nnd fn nin
The lady who Is his wlfo Is secretly the
grcniesi or ins slaves, out sho tries not
to let him know how much ho has cap
tured her Imagination. nvr non
Macdonnld ennnot qulto understand.
herself, how so elementnl nn nmntlnn
as love can have nleropd thn nrmnr
her sophistication.
THE END.
Smallest Drlnklna Cup.
One of the new foldlnir drlnklmr
mmlA nt trnfamrnn nlin
Into a tube no larger Uiuu n lead cea
As Lovers Will to tho End of