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RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
1 1 ornblo Judgment of youtn. riMa you I sain nothing. Ho wnltcd, and under
I A
The Yukon Trai
By WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE
An
Alaskan
Loves Story
Copyright, William Mncleotl Italno.
U14VU U1U JIIUIUI CUUU lit UUIUU YVUUU I IHU UUUIJIUIOIUII Ul 1113 j.jv.vm d.w.-w
ill
GENEVIEVE MALLORY, SEEING MACDONALO SUPPING
FROM HER GRASP, TAKES A HAND IN THE GAME
Synopsis As a representative of Iho government Gordon Elliot la
on his way to Alaska to investigate coal claims. On tho boat ho meets
and becomes Interested in n fellow passenger whom he learns Is Shoba
O'Neill, also "going in." Colby Mncdonald, nctlvo head of tho land
grabbing syndlcato Under Investigation, comes aboard. Elliot and Mnc
donald becomo In n mensuro friendly. Landing nt Kusluk, Elliot finds
that old friends of his, Mr. and Mrs. Paget, nro tho people whom Shcbn
has como to visit. Mrs. Paget Is Shebn's cousin. At dinner Elliot
reveals to Mncdonald tho object of his coming to Alaska. Tho two men,
naturally antagonistic, now nlso becomo rivals for tho hand of Shcbn.
Mncdonald, foreseeing failure of his financial plans If Elliot learns tho
facts, sends Sclfrldge, his right-hand man, to Kamatlah to arrange mat
ters so that Elliot wilt he deceived as to tho troo situation. Elliot nlso
leaves for Kamatlah and, wandering from tho trail, believes that ho
faces death. Sclfrldge, on his arrival at Kamatlah, has his agents ab
duct Gideon Holt, old-tlmo miner, who knows too much about Mac
donald's activities. Elliot wanders into tho camp where Holt fs held a
prisoner. Tho two men overpowering tho kidnapers, return to Kamat
lah, whero Elliot lenrns tho truth about tho conl laud deals. On tho
way back to Kuslak, Elliot meets a squaw, Melcetsc, with her child
who, Elliot learns, Is Macdonald's son. Soon after his return, Elliot
learns that Macdonald and Shcba have become engaged.
CHAPTER XI Continued.
Presently he spoke thickly. "I sup
pose you have heard that he was a
squaw man."
"That's ridiculous. Don't be absurd,
Gordon,"
"It's the truth. I've seen the woman.
Bhe was pointed out to me."
"By old Gideon Holt, likely," she
lathed.
"One could get evidence and show It
to Miss O'Neill," he said aloud, to him
elf rather than to her.
Diane put her point of view before
Mm with heated candor. "You couldn't
Nobody but a cad would rako up old
scandals about the man who has beat
en him fairly for a woman's love."
'Ton beg the question. Has be won
falrlyr
"Of course he has. Be a good sport,
Gordon. Don't kick on the umpire's
decision. Play the game."
"That's all very well. But what
about her? Am X to Bit quiet while
fhe Is sacrificed to a code of honor
that seems vto me rooted In dishonor?"
"She Is not being sacrificed. I'm
her cousin. I'm very fond of her. And
Td trust her with Colby Macdonald."
"Play fair, Diane. Tell her the truth
about this Indian woman and let your
cousin decide for herself. Yon can't
do less, can you?"
Mrs. Paget was distinctly annoyed.
"You ought to bo ashamed of yourself,
Gordon Elliot You take all tho gos
ilp of a crack-brained old Idiot for
gospel -tx-uth Just because you wnnt
to bellovo tho worst about Mr. Mnc
donald. Colby Mncdonald Is too big
and too aggrcsslvo not to have mado
hundreds of enemies. His ltfo has been
threatened dpzens of times. But he
pays no attention to it goes right on
building up this country. Yet you'd
think ho hod a cloven hoof to hear
some peoplo talk. Tvo no patlenco
with them."
"The woman's name is Mcteelse,"
Gordon said in an even voice, Just as
if ho were answering a question. "She
is young and good-looking for an In
dian. Her boy Is four or flvo years old.
Oolmac, they call htm, and ho looks
just Uko Macdonald."
j "People arc always tracing resem
blances. Thcro's nothing to that. But
suppose his life was irregular years
ago. This isn't Boston. It used to bo
tho frlngo of civilization. Men did as
they pleased in tho early days."
1 "This wasn't in tho early days. It
was flvo years ngo, when Macdonald
was examining tho Kamatlah coal field.
Tin told ho sends a check down tho
river once a month for tho woman."
I "All tho moro credit to him If ho
does." Dlono roso and looked storm
ily down at her friend. "You're about
as broad as a clam, Gordon. Can't you
see that oven if It's true, all that Is
done with? It is a pnrt of his past
and it's finished trodden underfoot
It hasn't a thing to do with Shcba."
ElUot roso and looked across at tho
bluo-rlbbed mountains. His square
jaw was set when ho turned it back
toward Diane.
"Sho isn't going to marry him if I
can help it" he said quietly.
He walked out of the gate and down
tho walk toward his hotel.
A message was waiting for him there
from his chief in Seattle. It called him
down the river on business.
CHAPTER XII.
CUnevleve Mallory Takes a Hand.
Inside of an hour the news of the
engagement of Macdonald was all over
Kuslak. It was through a. telephone
receiver that the gossip was buzzed
to Mrs. Mallory by a friend who owed
her a little stab. The voice of Gene
vieve 'Mallory registered faint amuse
ment but as soon as she had hung op,
her face fell into haggard lines. She
had staked a year of her waning youth
on winning the big mining man of
Kuslak, together with all the money
that she had been able to scrape up
fni ttin mmnolvn nntflt. fnrnnirir. mha
liked him.
urs. xuauory sac aown in we nau
bcsldo the telephone, her fingers laced
about one crossed knee. She know
that if Sheba O'Neill had not come on
tho scene, Macdonald would have
asked her to marry him. He had been
moving slowly toward her for months.
They understood each other and were
at caso together. Between them was a
strong physical affinity.
Then Diane Paget bad brought In this
slim, young cousin of hers and Colby
Macdonald had been fascinated by the
mystery of her innocent youth. Mrs.
Mallory wan Uko steel beneath the soft
and Indolent surface. Swiftly she
mapped her plan of attack. The Alas
kan could not bo moved, but it might
be possible to startlo the girl into
breaking tho engagement
But before she mado any move Mrs.
Mallory Intended to bo Buro of her
facts. It was Uko her to go to head
quarters for Information. She got
Mncdonald on the wire.
"1'vo just heard something nice
about you. Do tell mo It's true," she
said, her volco warm with sympathy.
Macdonald laughed with almost boy
ish embarrassment "It's true, I
rockon."
"I'm so glad. She's a lovely girl.
Tho sweetest thing that over lived.
I'm euro you'll bo happy. I always did
think you would mako a perfect hus
band. Of course, I'm simply green
with envy of her." '
Her little rlpplo of laughter was gay
nnd care-free. Tho man at tho other
end of tho lino noyer had liked her bet
ter. Sho was a game little sport, ho
told himself approvingly. It appealed
to him Immensely that she could tnko
such a facer and como up smiling.
There were no signs of worry wrln-
i kics on ner ince wncn mo maiu au
an occasional cigar with tho land agent
nnd nlrcd his views on politics and af
fairs social. Ho left tho boat nt tho
big bend.
Not till a week Inter did Elliot re
turn up tho river. Ho was nslcep at
the tlmo tho Sarah passed tho big
bend, but next morning ho discovered
that Sclfrldgo and Dustln had como
uboard during tho night In tho after
noon ho enmo upon n real surprise
when ho found Mctcctso and her Uttlo
boy Colmoc seated upon a box on the
lower deck where freight for locnl
points was stored.
nis guess was that they were locnl
passengers, but wharf nfter wharf
slipped behind them and tho two still
remnlncd on board. They appeared
to know nbbody else on tho Sarah,
though onco Gordon met Dustln just ns
ho was hurrying away from tho Indian
woman.
Mctcctso transferred with tho other
Kuslak passengers nt tho river junc
tion. The field agent was not tho only
one on board who wondered where
she was going. Sclfrldgo was con
sumed with curiosity, and when she
and the boy got off at Kuslak, ho could
restrain himself no longer. Gordon
saw Wally talking with her. Mctectso
showed him an envelope which evi
dently had an address written upon It,
for the little man pointed out to her
the dlrecUon In which she must go.
Since leaving Kuslak nearly two
weeks before, no word had reached
Gordon of Sheba. As soon as he had
finished dinner at tho hotel, he walked
out to the Paget house and sent in
his card.
Sheba came Into tho hall to meet
him from the living room where she
bad been sitting with the man she ex
pected to marry next week. She gave
a little murmur of pleasure at sight of
him and held out both hands.
"I was afraid yon weren't going to
get back in time. I'm so glad," she
told him warmly.
He managed to achieve a smUe.
"When is the great day?"
"Next Thursday. Of course we're
as busy as can be, but Diane says
A ring at the door interrupted her.
Sheba stepped forward and let in an
Indian woman with a Uttlo boy cling
ing to her hand;
"Yon Miss O'Neill?" she asked.
"Yes."
From the folds of her shawl she
drew a letter. The girl glanced at the
address, then opened and read what
was written. She looked up, puzzled,
first at the comely, flat-footed Indian
woman and afterward at tho hondsomo
Uttlo brown-faced papoose. Sho turned
to Gordon.
"This letter says I am to ask this
woman who Is tho father of her boy.
What does it mean?"
Gordon knew Instantly what it
meant, though ho could not gueBS who
had dealt tho blow. Tho impulse to
vnl, wcro already gono Uko tho flame
of n blown cnndlo. Clearly her heart
was a-flutter,' In fear of sho knew not
what When tho Indian womnn told
how sho had first crossed tho path of
Mncdonnld, tho color flamed Into tho
checks of tho Irish girl, but as the
story progressed, tho blood ebbed
oven from her lips.
With n swift movement of her fin
gers sho flashed on tho hall light. Her
gnzo senrched the brown, shiny face of
tho Uttlo chap. Sho read there nn af
fidavit of tho truth of his mother's
talc. It was Impossible to sco him
nnd not recognlzo Colby Macdonnld re-
lncarnntcd.
"What is your name?" asked Shebn
suddenly. '
The ybungstcr hung back shyly
among tho folds of tho Indian woman's
skirt "Colmac," he said at last softly.
"Come 1" Sheba flung open the door
of the living room and ushered them
in.
Mncdonald, pacing restlessly up nnd
down tho room during her nbsence,
pulled tip In his stride. He stood frown
ing at the native woman, then his eyes
passed to Elliot and fastened upon
him. Tho foco of tho Scotsman was
grim as that of a banging judge.
Gordon started to explain, then
stopped with a shrug. What waB tho
use? Tho man would never believe
him in the world.
'Til remember this," the Alaskan
promised his rival. There was a cold
glitter in his eyes, a sudden flare of
the devil that was blood-chilling.
"It's true, then," broke in Shebn.
"You're a squaw man. You belong
to this woman."
"Nothing of the kind. That's been
ended for years."
"Ended?" Sheba drew Colmac for
ward by the wrist "Do you deny that
this Is your boy?"
The big Alaskan brushed this aside
as of no moment "I dare say he Is.
Anyhow, I'm paying for his keep. What
of it? That's all finished and done
with."
"How can it be done with when
when she's the mother of your child,
your wife before God?" Standing there
straight as an aspen, the beautiful
bosom rising and falling quickly while
the atom waves beat through her
you came In over tho Ice?"
Ho smiled n little. "Morality Is tho
averago conduct of the avcrago mnn
at a given tlmo nnd plncc. It Is based
on custom nnd expediency. Tho rules
mado for Drogheda won't fit Dawson
or Nome. Motcctse docs not hold her
self disgraced but honored. Sho counts
her boy far superior to tho other
youngsters of tho village, nnd ho is
so considered by the tribe. I am told
sho lords It over her Bisters."
A fnlnt flush of anger crept Into her
cheeks."1 "Your view of morality puts
us on a level with tho nnlmnls. I will
not discuss tho subject, If you please."
"Wo must discuss It I must get you
to sco thnt Mctcctso and what sho
stood for in my life havo nothing to
do with us. They belong to my past
Sho doesn't exist for cither of us
Isn't In any way n part of my present
or future."
"Sho exists for me," answered Shcbn
listlessly. Sho felt suddenly old nnd
weary. "But I can't tnlk about It
Plcnso go. I want to bo nlonc."
Again Mncdonnld paced restlessly
down tho room nnd back. The man
l ' i " ' IllllHlff
flPlp v
Mbtk.
For Answer He Kissed the Red Lips.
was one among ten thousand, domi
nant, virile, every ounce of him strong
as tested steel. But ho felt as If all
his energy were caged.
"Why don't you go?" the girl plead
ed. "It's no use to stay."
He stopped In front of her. Tm
blood, Sheba O'Neill had never made I going to marry you, Sheba. You're
more appeal to the strong, lawless i mine."
"I dbn't aareo with you. A man I mlttod a caller half a'n hour later.
can't cut Iooso entirely from his past 1
It Is a part' of him and Macdonald's
past Isn't good enough for Shoba
O'Neill."
Dlano tapped her Uttlo foot impa
tiently on tho floor. "Do you know
many men whoso pasts aro good
enough for their wives? Colby Mac
donald Is good enough for any woman
allvo if ho loves her enough."
"You don't know him."
"I know him far better than you do.
He is tho biggest man I know, and now
that ho is in love with n good woman
he'll rise to his chance."
"Sho ought to bo told the truth
about Metcctso and her boy," he in
sisted doggedly.
Mrs. Paget losj her temper complete
ly. "Does tho government pay you
to mind other pcoplo's business, Gor
don?" sho snapped.
T wouldn't bo working for tho gov
ernment then, but for Shcba O'Neill."
. "And for Gordon Elliot You'd bo
Holng underhand work for him too.
)on't forger that You can't do it
tou'ro not that kind of a man. It
sn't In you to go muckraking In tho
ist of the man Shcba is going to
marry."
Oliver Dustln was tho name on tho
card, no was a remlttanco man, a
tamo Uttlo parlor pet whoso vocation
was to fetch and carry for pretty wom
en, and by soma odd trick of fato ho
bad sifted into tho Northland. Mrs.
Mallory had tolerated him rather
scornfully, but today sho smiled upon
him,
Dustln helped himself to a cigarette
and mado himself comfortable
She set herself to win him. Ho was
Immensely flattered nt her awakened
Interest When sho called him by bis
first name, ho wagged all over like a
ploascd puppy.
It carao to htm after a tlmo thnt she
was considering him for a confidential
mission. Ho assured her eagerly that
thcro was no troublo too great for him
to toko if ho could bo of any servlco
to her. Their heads wero closo in
whispered talk for a few minutes, at
tho end of which Dustln left tho room
with his chin in tho air. He was a
knight errant In tho employ of the
most attractive woman north of fifty
thrco. When Elliot took the down-river
boat ha found Oliver Dustln was a f el-
low passenger. Tho Uttlo man smoked
SB mm a 1
111
n &fcrsa
1S K3Xy
T-
"What Does It Mean?"
sparo her pain was stronger in him
than tho deslro that she should know
tho truth.
"Send her awny," ho urged. "Don't
ask any questions. She has been sent
to hurt you."
A f awnllko fear flashed Into the star
tled eyes. "To hurt mo?"
"I am afraid so,"
"But why? I havo dono nobody
any harm." Sho seemed to hold even
her breathing In suspense.
"Perhaps somo of Macdonald's ene
mies," ho suggested.
And at that thcro camo n star-flash
Into tho Boft oyes and n lifted tilt of
the chin cut fino as a cameo. She
turned proudly to tho Indian woman.
"What Is It that you havo to teU me
about this boy's father?"
Mctectso began to speak. At the
first mention of .Macdonald's name
Sheba's eyes dilated. Her smile, her
sweet, glad pleasure at Gordon's arrl-
man who desired her for his wife.
"You don't understand." Macdon
ald's big fists were clenched so sav
agely that the knuckles stood out
white from the brown tan of tho flesh.
"This is a man's country. It's new
close to nature. What he wants ho
takes if he's strong enough. I'm ele
mental. I"
"You wanted her and you took her.
Now you wont mo and I suppose
you'll take me too." Her scornful
words had the sting of a whiplash.
Tve lived as all men live who have
red blood In them. This woman was
an Incident I've been aboveboard.
She can't say I ever promised more
than Tve given. Pvo kept her and the
boy. It's been no secret If you had
asked, I would have told you the whole
story."
"Does that excuse you?"
"I don't need any excuse. I'm a
man. That's excuse enough. Tho ono
big fact you want to set your teeth into
now is that I love you, that there isn't
another woman on God's earth for me,
and that thcro never will bo again."
Her eyes flashed battle. "Tho one
big fact I'm facing Is that you havo
Insulted me that you Insult mo again
when you mention lovo with thnt wom
an and boy in tho room. You belong
to them go to them nnd lcavo mo
alone. I bate the sight of you. Why
don't you go all of you and leave
mo in peaco?"
It was a cry of bruised prldo and
wounded love. Elliot touched tho In
dian woman on tho shoulder. Meteetso
turned stolidly nnd walked out of tho
room, still lending Colmoc by tho hand.
Tho young man followed.
Macdonald closed tho door behind
them, then strodo frowning up and
down tho room. Tho fear was grow
ing, on him thnt for nil his great driv
ing' power ho could not shako this
slim girl from tho view to which sho
clung. His relation with Meteetso
had been natural enough. Ho believed
that ho had acted very honorably to
her. Many a man would havo left
her in tho lurch to take caro of tho
youngster by herself. But bo hnd ac
knowledged his obligation. Ho was
paying his debt scrupulously, nnd be
cause of It tho story had risen to con
front him. Ho felt that It was an un
just blow of fato.
He know that ho must justify him
self beforo Shcba or loso her. As ho
Btood in, tho dusk so toll and rigid, ho
know her heart was steel to, him. Her
finely chiseled faco had tho look of
race. Never nau tno speii oi ner been
moro upon him. Ho crushed back a
keen-edged deslro to tnko her supple
young body Into his arms and kiss her
till tho scarlet ran into her cheeks
Uko Bplasbcs of wlno.
"You haven't tho proper slant on
this, Shcba. Alaska is tho lost fron
tier. It's tho dropplng-off place.
You're north of flfty-three."
"Am I north of tlio Ten Command
ments?" she demanded with tho Inez-
"No. Never I" sho cried. "TU take
tho boat and go homo first"
"You've promised to marry me.
You're going to keep your word and
bo glad of It nil your life."
Sho shook her bead. "No."
"Yes." Macdonald had always
shown remarkable restraint with her.
He hod kissed her seldom, and nlways
with n kind of nwe at her young pur
ity. Now ho caught her by tho shoul
ders. The color flamed into her face. Sho
looked hot to the touch, an active
volcano ready to erupt There was an
odd feeling in her mind that this big
man was a stranger to her.
Take your hands from me," she or
dered.
"Do you think I'm going to give you
up now now, after I've won you
because of a fool' scruple in your
pretty head? You don't know me. It's
too Into. I lovo you and I'm going
to protect both of us from your prud
lshness." His arms closed on her and he
crushed her to him, looking down hun
grily Into tho dark Uttlo face.
"Let mo go," sho cried fiercely,
struggling to frco herself.
For answer ho kissed tho red lips,
tho flaming cheeks, tho nngry eyes.
Then, coming to his senses, ho pushed
her from him, turned, and strodo heav
ily from tho room.
CHAPTER XIII.
Gordon Buys a Revolver.
Sclfrldgo was not eager to meot his
chief, bu$ ho knew ho must report nt
once. Ho stopped at his houso only
long enough to get into fresh clothes
nnd from there walked down to tho
office.
It had been the Intention of Mac
donald to go direct from Shcba to his
office, but tho explosion brought about
by Mctcctso had sent him out into tho
hills for a long tramp. Ho was in
a stress of furious emotion, and until
ho had worked off tho edgo of it by
hard mushing, tho cramped civiliza
tion of tho town stifled him.
Hours later ho strode into tho office
of tho company. Wally lay asleep In
n swivel chair, his i fat body sagging
and his head fallen sideways' In such a
way as to emphasize tho plump folds
of his doublo chin. His" eyes opened.
They took In his chief slowly. Then,
In a small panic, ho jumped to his
feet
"MuBt V been tnklng thirty winks,"
ho explained. "Been up nights a good
deal."
"What doing?" demanded tho Scots
man harshly.
In a hurried attempt to divert tho
nnger of .Mncdonald, his assistant
made a mistake "Say, Mac I Who
do you think enme up on tho boat
with mo? I wondered If you know.
Meteetse and her kid"
He stopped. Tho big man, was glar
ing savagely at him. But Macdonald
Wnlly stumbled on helplessly.
" They got off hero. 'Course I
didn't know whether you'd sent for
her or not, so I stopped and kinder
gnvo her the glad band just to size
things up."
"Yes."
"Sho hnd tho address of Miss O'Neill,
that Irish girl staying nt tho Pagets',
tho ono thnt camo in"
"Go on," snapped his chief.
"So I directed her how sho could
get there nnd'
Wnlly found himself lifted from tho
chair and hammered down Into It
again. His soft flesh quaked Uko a
jelly. As .ho stared pop-cyed at tho
furious foco abovo hlra, tho fat chin
of tho Uttlo mnn dropped.
"My God, Mac, don't do thntl" ho
whined.
Macdonnld wheeled abruptly nwny,
crossed tho room In long strides, nnd
camo back.
"What's the use?" ho said aloud.
"You're nothing but n Bplnelcss put
tcrer. nnven't you enough senso oven
to glvo mo n chanco to dccldo for
myself? Why didn't you keep the
womnn with you till you could send
for me, you dnft monkey?"
"If I hnd known"
"D'yo think you've got sense enough
to tnko n plain, straight message as
far ns the hotel? Because If you have,
I've got ono to send."
Wnlly caressed tenderly his bruised
flesh. Ho hnd a childlike deslro to
weep, but ho was afraid Macdonnld
would kick him out of tho office.
"'Course I'll do whatever you say.
Mac," he nnswered humbly.
The Scotch-Cnnndlan brushed the
swivel chnlr and Its occupant to ono
Bide, drew up another chair in front
of tho desk, nnd faced Sclfrldgo
squarely. Tho eyes that blazed at tho ft
Uttlo man wcro tho grimmest he had
ever looked into.
"Go to the hotel nnd see this man
Elliot nlone. Tell him he's gono too
far butted into my affairs onco too
often. There's not; n man alive Td
stand It from. My orders are for him
to get out on the next boat If he's
hero after that, I'll kill him on Bight"
The color ebbed out of tho florid
faco of Wally. Ho moistened his lips
to speak. "Heavens, Mac, you can't
do that Ho'U go out and report"
"Let him say what he likes. Put this
to blm Btralght: that he and I can't
stay in this town and both of ns
Uve."
Wally had lapped up too many high
balls In the past ten years to relish
this kind of mission. His nerve was
gone. Ho had not the punch any more.
Yet Mnc was always expecting him to
help out with his rough stuff, he re
flected fretfully. Take this message,
now. There was no sense In it Self
ridge plucked up h'ls courage to say so.
"That won't buy us anything but
trouble, Mnc. In tho old days you
could put over''
The Uttlo man never guessed how
close he camo to being flung through
the transom over tho door, but his In
stinct warned him to stop.. His ob
jection died away In a mumble.
"O' course Til do whatever you say,"
ho added a second time.
"Seo you do," advised his chief, an
ugly look In hte eyes. "Tell him he
gets till tho next boat If he's here .
after that, ho'd better go heeled, for
I'll shoot on sight wherever we meet"
Selfridgo went on his errand with
logging feet He found Elliot sitting
moodily alone on the porch of tho
hotcL
In Gordon's pocket there was a note
to Macdonald explaining that ho had
nothing to do with tho coming of Me
teetse. He hnd expected to send It by
the hotel porter that evening, but the
curt order to leave town filled him
with a chill anger. Tho dictator of
affairs at Kuslak might think what he
pleased for all tho explanaUon be
would get from him.
Tell your master I don't take or
ders from him," he told Wnlly quietly.
"I'll stay UU my work here Is done."
They had moved a f ow ynrds down the
street Now Gordon turned, lean
Joined nnd ncttve, and trod with crisp,
'confident step back to the hotel. He
had said all that was necessary to say.
Two men' standing on tho porch
nodded a good evening to him. Gor
don, nbout to pass, glanced at them
again. They wero Northrup and Tre
lawnoy, two of tho miners who had had
trouble with Macdonald on tho boat
On lmpulso ho stopped. "Found
work yet?" ho nsked.
"Found a Job nnd lost it again,"
Northrup nnswered sullenly.
"Too bad."
"Macdonnld passed the word along
thnt wo weren't to got work. So our
boss fired us. Tho whole district is
closed to us. Wo been blacklisted,"
explained Trelawney.
"And wo'ro busted," added hts mate.
Elliot wns always free-handed. Per
haps ho felt just now unusually sym
pathetic toward theso victims of the
high-banded methods of Macdonald.
From his pocket ho took a small
leather purso nnd gave a pleco of gold
to each 6f them. -
"Just! as a loan "to , carry you for a
coup'lo 'of Mays till you got something
to do," ho suggested.
Northrup demurred, but after a little
pressing accepted tho accommodation.
"I pay you soonack.'J ho promised.
Trelawney laughed recklessly. He
had been drinking.
"You bet Mo too."
M
Elliot finds himself In a serious
predicament as a result of a re
markable chain of circum
stances which oeem to convict
him. These circumstances are
related In the next Installment
CTO BE CONTINUED.)
U
anr-
i
i
&
.M:
