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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1918)
RED OLOUD, NEBRA3KA, CHIEF TheY By WILLIAM MACLEOD CHAPTER XXI Continued. 12 Whllo they ntc, tho party went Into cominlttco of tho whole to decide whnt was best to ho done. Gordon noticed that In all tho tcntatlvo suggestions rando by Holt and Swlftwater tho comfort of Sheba was tho first thing In mind. Tho girl, too, noticed It and smil ingly protested, her soft hand lying for the moment on tho gnarled 0110 of tho old miner. "It doesn't matter about me. Wo havo to think of what will bo best for Mr. Holt, of how to get him to tho proper care. My comfort can wait." Tho plan nt last decided upon was that Gordon should mnko n dash for Smlth'H Crossing on snow-shoes, where ho was to nrrange for a relief purty to como out for tho injured man and Mrs. Olson. Ho was to return at onco with out waiting for tho rescuers. Next morning ho and Shcbn would fitart with Holt's dog team for Kuslak. Macdonald had taught Shcbn how to uso snowshocs and sho had been nn apt pupil. From her suitcase sho got out her moccasins and put them on. Sho borrowed tho snowshocs of Holt, wrapped herself In her parka, and an nounced that sho wus going with El liot part of tho way. Gordon thought her movements a mlrnclo of supplo lightness. Her lines had tho swelling roundness of vital youth, her eyes wero ullvo with the eagerness that tlmo dulls In most faces. They spoko llttlo as they swept forwnrd over tho whlto snow wastes. Tho spell of tho great North was over her. Its mystery was stirring In her heart, Just as it had been when her lips had turned to his at the sunrise. As for him, lovo ran through his veins Hko old wine. But ho allowed his feel ings no expression. For though sho had como to him of her own accord for that one blessed mlnuto nt dawn, he could not bo suro whnt had moved her so deeply. Sho was treading n world prlmovnl, tho wonder of It still In her soft eyes. Would sho waken to love or to disillusion? Ho took enre to seo that sho did not tiro. Presently ho stopped and held out his hand to say good-by. "Will you como back this way?" sho asked. "Yes. I ought to get hero soon after dark. Will you moot mo?" Sho gavo him a quick, Bliy llttlo nod, turned without shaking hands, nnd struck out for tho cabin. All through tho day happiness flooded her heart. Whllo sho waited on nolt or helped Mrs. Olson cook or watched Swlftwa ter while ho put up tho tent in tho lee of tho cabin, llttlo snatches of song bubbled from her lips. Sometimes they wero bits of old Irish ballads that popped Into her mind. Once, while eho was preparing somo coffeo for her patient, It was a stnnza from Burns: Till a' tha teaa fans dry, my dear. And tho rocks melt wl' the aunt X will love thco itlll, my dear, While the aanda o life ahull run. She caught old Gideon looking nt hor with a queer llttlo smllo on his weather-tanned faco and sho felt tho color beat Into her checks. "I haven't bought n wedding present for twenty years," ho told her pres ently, apropos of nothing that had been said. "I won't know what's tho proper tiling to get, Miss Shcbn." "If you talk nonsense Hko that I'll go out nnd tnlk to Mr. Swlftwater rote," sho threatened, blushing. Old Gld folded his hands meekly. Til bo good honest I will. Let's see. I got to make safo and sane conversa tion, have I? Htn I Wonder when that lazy, long-legged, good-for-nothing horscthlcf nnd holdup that calls him 'self Gordon Elliot will get back to camp." Sheba looked Into his twinkling eyes auspiciously as sho handed him his coffee. For n moment sho bit her lip to keep hack a smile, then said with mock severity: "Now, I am going to leavo you to Mrs. Olson." When sunset enmo It found Sheba on tho trail. Swlftwater Pcto had of fered to go with her, but sho had been 'relieved of his well-meant kindness by 'tho demnnd of Holt. "No, you don't, Pcto. You ain't n-goln' off gnlllvontln' with no young lady. You'ro a-goln' to stay hero and fix my game leg for me. Whnt do you reckon Miss Sheba wants with a fat, lop-sldcd lummox Hko you along with her?" Pcto grew purplo with embarrass ment, no had not Intended nnythlng moro than civility and ho wanted this understood. "limp I Ain't you cot no senso o-tall, Gld? If Miss Sheba's bent on coin to meet Elliot, I allowed somo ono ought to go along nnd keep tho dnrk offen her. 'Courso thcro ain't nothln' going to hnrm her, unless sho goes and gets lost" Sheba's smllo cooled tho heat of tho etngo driver. "Which sho Isn't going to do. Good of you to offer to go with me. Don't mind Mr. nolt. Everybody knows ho doesn't mean half of what ho says. I'd bo glad to havo you como with me, but It Isn't necessary at all. So I'll not troublo you." Darkness fell quickly, but Sheba still held to tho trail. Thcro was no elgn con Trail of Elliot, but sho felt suro ho would come soon. Meanwhile sho followed steadily the tracks ho hnd mndo ear lier In tho day. She stopped at last. It was getting much colder. Sho wns miles from the camp. Reluctantly sho decided to re turn. Then, out of the dnrkness, ho enmo abruptly upon her, the man whom sho had como out to meet. Under the magic of tho Northern stars they found themselves again In each other's arms for that brief mo ment of Joyful surprise. Then, as It had been In tho morning, Sheba drew herself shyly away. "They nro waiting supper for us," sho told him Irrelevantly. He did not shout out his hnpplness nnd tell her to let them wait. For Gordon, too, felt nwed at this 'wonder ful ndvcnt.uro of lovo thnt hnd befal len them. It was enough for him that they wero moving sldo by side, alone In tho deep snows nnd tho biting cold, that wnves of emotion crashed through his pulses when his swinging hand touched hers. They were acutely conscious of each other. Excitement burned in tho eyes thnt turned to Bwlft, reluctant meetings. Sho was a woman, and ho was her lover. Neither of them dared quite accept the fact yet, but It filled tho background of all their thoughts with delight. Shelm did not want to tnlk of this new, ninnzlng thing thnt had come Into her life. It was too sacred n subject to discuss Just yet even with him. So she began to tell him odd fancies from childhood that lingered in her Celtic heart, tales of tho "llttlo folk" that wero half memories and half Imagin ings, -stirred to life by somo old asso ciation of sky nnd stnrs. Sho laughed softly at herself as sho told them, but Gordon did not laugh nt her. Everything sho did wns for him di vinely done. Even when his eyes wero on tho dnrk trail ahead ho saw only tho dusky loveliness of curved check, tho faco luminous with n rndlnnco somo women nro never privileged to know, tho rhythm of head nnd body and slender legs thnt was part of her Individual heaven-sent charm. Tho rest finished supper beforo Gor don nnd Shobn reached camp, but Mrs. Olson hnd n hot meal wnltlng for them. "I fixed up tho tent for the women folks stove, sleeping bags, plenty of wood. Touch a match to tho flro and It'll bo snug ns a bug In a rug," ex plained Swlftwater to Gordon. Elliot and Shcbn wero to start early for Kuslak and later tho rescuo party would arrlvo to tnko euro of Holt and Mrs. Olson. "Timo to turn In," Holt advised. "You better light that stove, Elliot." The young mnn was still In the tent arranging tho sleeping bags when She ba entered. Ho tried to wnlk out with out touching her, Intending to call back his good-night. But ho could not do It. There was something flnmey about her tonight thnt went to his head. Her tender, tremulous llttlo smllo nnd tho turn of her buoyant llttlo head stirred in him a lover's rhapsody. "It's to be n long trail wo cover to morrow, Sheba. You must sleep. Good ulght." "Good night Gordon." Thcro wns n llttlo Hash of audacity In tho whimsical twist of her mouth. It wns tho first time sho hnd ever called him by his given name. Elliot threw nway prudenco nnd caught her by tho hands. "My dear my dear I" he cried. Sho trembled to his kiss, gavo her self to his embraco with Innocent pas Mon. Tendrils of hair, fino us silk, brushed his cheeks nnd sent strnngo thrills through him. They talked the Incoherent langungo of lovers that Is compounded of mur murs nnd hllenccs and tho touch of lips und tho meetings of eyes. Thcro were to bo other nights In their lives ns rich In memories ns this, but never another with qulto tho snmo delight. Presently Sheba reminded him with n smllo of tho long trnll ho had men tioned. Mrs. Olson bustled into the tent, and hor presenco stressed tho point. "Good night, neighbors," Gordon called back from outside tho tent. Sheba's "Good night" echoed softly back to him. Tho girl fell nsleep to the sound of tho light breczo Blnpplng tho tent nnd to tho doleful howling of tho huskies. CHAPTER XXII. A Message From the Dead. Macdonald drovo his team Into the teeth of the storm. Tho wind enmo In gusts. Sometimes tho gnlo was so stiff thnt tho dogs could scarcely crnwl for ward agnlnst It; again there wero mo ments of comparative stillness, fol lowed by squalls that slapped tho driver In tho faco Hko tho whipping of n loose snll on n catboat. nigh drifts mndo tho trail difficult. Not onco but fifty times Mncdonnld left tho gee-polo to break n wny through snow-wnves for tho sled. Tho best ho could got out of his dogs wns tlireo miles an hour, and ho knew that there waa not another team or driver In tho North could hnve done bo well. It wns close to noon when ho reached n division of tho road known ns the Fork. Ono trail ran down to tlio river RAINE and up It to the distant creeks. The other led ncross tho divide, struck the Yukon, and pointed u wny to tho const. White drifts hnd long slnco blotted out tho track of the sled that had pre ceded him. Had tho fugitives gono up tho river to tho creeks with lutent to holo themselves up for'tho winter? Or was It their purpose to cross tho divide and go out over tho Ico to tho const? The pursuer knew thnt Gld Holt wns wlso as a weasel. Ho could follow blindfolded the paths that led to every creek In tho gold-fields. It might be taken ns a certnlnty thnt he had not plunged Into such a despcrnte venture without having n plan well worked out beforehand. Elliot had a high grade of Intelligence. Would they try to rench the const and mnko their gut nway to Seattle? Or would they dig themselves In till tho heavy snows were pnst nnd como back to civiliza tion with tho story of n lucky strike to account for the gold they brought with them? Neither gold dust nor nuggets could bo Identified. There would bo no wny of proving tho story false. The only evidence ngalnst them would be that they had left at Kusluk and this wns merely of a corroborative kind. There would bo no chnnco of convict ing them upon It. To strike for Scattlo was to throw away all pretense of Innocence. Fugi tives from Justice, they would have to disappear from sight in order to es cape. Tho hunt for them would con tinue until nt last they wero unearthed. Ono fork of the roud led to compara tive snfety; the oilier went by devious windings to tho penltentlury nnd pcr hnps tho gnllows. Tho Scotsman put himself In tho plnce of tho men ho wns trailing. Given tho snmo conditions, ho knew which pnth he would follow. Macdonnld took the trnll that led down to tho river, to the dtstnnt gold creeks which offered a refugo from mnn-hunters In mnny a deserted cabin marooned by tho deep snows. Even tho Iron frnmo and steel muscles of tho Scotch-Canadian pro tested ngalnst tho tnsk ho hnd set them thnt dny. It wns n tlmo to sit snugly Insldo by a stovo nnd listen to tho howling of tho wind ns It hurled Itself down from tho divide. But from dny light till dark Colby Macdonald fought with drifts and breasted tho storm. IIo got into tho harness with the dogs, no broko trail for them, cheered them, soothed, comforted, punished. Long nfter night hnd fallen ho staggered Into tho hut of two prospectors, his parka so stiff with frozen snow that It had to bo beaten with a hnmmcr beforo the cont could bo removed. "How long slnco n dog tenm passed seven huskies nnd two men?" was his first question. "No dog team has passed for four days," ono of the men answered. "You mean you haven't seen one," Mncdonnld corrected. "I menn none hns passed unless It went by In tho night while we slept. And even then our dogs would havo warned us." Macdonnld flung his Ice-coated gloves to n tnblo nnd stooped to tnko off his mukluks. nis face was blue with tho cold, but tho bleak look in tho eyes Slowly Macdonald Moved Toward It. enmo from within, no snld nothing more until ho was frco of his wet clothes. Then ho sat down heavily and passed a hand over his frozen eye brows. "Get mo something to eat and tnko euro of my dogs. Thero Is food for them on tho sled," ho said. Whllo ho ato ho told them of tho bank robbery and tho murder. Their resentment ngnlnst tho men who hnd dono it wns qulto genuine. Thero could bo no doubt they told the truth when they said no sled had preceded his. They wero honest, reliabla pros pectors. Ho knew them both well. Tho weary man slept Hko n log. no opened his eyes next morning to find ono of his hosts shaking him. X fcUJwi 4n Alaskan Love Story Copyright, William Maclcod Ralne. "Six o'clock, Mr, brcakfust Is ready. Macdonald. Your Jim Is looking out for the huskies." Half un hour later tho Scotsman gave tho order, "Mush!" Ue was off again, this tlmo on tho back trail as far as tho Narrows, from which point ho meant to strike across to Intersect tho fork of the rond lending to the di vide. Tho storm had passed and when the late sun rose It was in n blue sky. Fine enough tho dny was overhead, but the slushy snow, where it was worn thin on the river by the sweep of tho wind, mndo heavy travel for tho dogs. Mac donnld was glad enough to rench the Narrows, where ho could turn from the river nnd cut ncross to hit tho trnll of tho men ho wns following. He hnd about five miles to go beforo ho would rench tho Smith Crossing rond nnd every foot of It ho would hnve to break trail for the dogs. This wns slow business, since ho had no partner at tho gee-pole. Back nnd forth, bnck nnd forth heltrudged, bentlng down tho loose Bnow for tho runners. It wns n hill trail, nnd tho drifts wero In most plnces not very deep. But tho Scots man was doing the work of two, nnd nt n killing pnee. Over n ridge tho tenm plunged down Into n little park where the snow wns deeper. Macdonald, breaking trail across tho mountain vnllcy, found his feet weighted with packed Ico slush so that ho could hardly niovo them. When nt last ho had beaten down a path for his dogs ho stood breathing deep nt the summit of tho slope. Beforo them lay the main road to Smith's Crossing, scarce fifty yards away, no gave a deep whoop of triumph, for along It ran tho wavering tracks left by n sled, no was on tho heels of his enemy at last. As ho turned back to his Siberian hounds, the eyes of Mncdonnld enmo to nbrupt nttontlon. On tho hillside, not ten ynrds from him, something stuck out of tho snow like a signpost. It was the foot of n man. Slowly Macdonald moved toward It. Ho knew well enough what ho had -stumbled across ono of the tragedies that In the North are likely to be found In tho wnke of every widespread bliz zard. Somo unfortunate traveler, blind ed by tho white Bwlrl, hnd wandered from tho trnll nnd had staggered up n draw to his death. With n llttlo digging tho Alaskan uncovered a leg. Tho man had died where ho had fnllen, face down. Mac donald scooped away the snow nnd found a pnek strapped to the back of tho burled man. He cut tho thongs nnd tried to enso It nwny. But the gunnysnek had frozen to the parka. When ho pulled, the rotten sacking gave way under tho strnln. The con tents of the pack spilled out. The eyes In tho grim fnco of Mnc donnld grew hard and steely. IIo had found, by some strnnge freak of chance, much more than ho had ex pected to find. Using his snowshoe ns a shovel, he dug the body frco nnd turned It over. At sight of tho face ho gave a cry of astonishment. Gordon overslept, nis plan had been to rench Kuslak at the end of a long day's travel, but that had meant get ting on tho trail with tho first gleam of light. When ho opened his eyes Mrs. Olson wns calling him to rise. He dressed and stepped out Into the cold, crisp morning. From the hill crotch the sun wns nlrendy pouring down a great, fanllkc shaft of light ncross tho snow vista. Swlftwater Peto passed behind him on his wny to the stable and called n cheerful good morning In his direction. Mrs. Olson had put tho stovo outside the tent nnd Gordon lifted It to the spot whero they did the cooking. "Good morning, neighbor," ho called to Sheba. "Sleep well?" The little rustling sounds within the tent censed. A fnco appeared In tho doorway, the flaps drawn discreetly close beneath tho chin. "Never better. Is my breakfast ready yet?" "Como nnd help mo mnko It. Mrs. Olson Is waiting on Holt." "When I'm dressed." Tho smiling fnco disappeared. "Dublin Bay" sound ed In her fresh young voice from tho tent. Gordon Joined In tho song ns ho lit tho flro nnd sliced bacon from n frozen slab of it. Tho howling of tho huskies Inter rupted the song. They hnd evidently henrd something thnt excited them. Gordon listened. Wns It In his fnncy only thut tho breczo carried to him tho faint Jingle of sleigh-bells? Tho sound, If It wns one, died uwny. Tho cook turned to his Job. Ho stopped sawing at tho meat, knlfo nnd bacon both suspended In tho ulr. On tho hard snow thcro hnd como' to him tho crunch of a foot behind him. Whoso? Sheba was In tho tent, Swlft wnter nt the stnble, Mrs. Olson In tho house. Slowly ho turned his head. What Elliot saw sent tho starch through his body. IIo did not movo nn Inch, still sat crouched by the fire, but every nervo wus at tension, orery muscle taut. For ho was looking nt n riflo lying negligently in brown, steady hands. They wero very suro hands, very competent ones. Ho knew thnt becnuso ho bad seen them In action. The owner of the nnnds was Colby Macdonald. The Scotch-Canadian stood nt the edge of n willow grove. Ills face was grim as the day of Judgment. "Don't move," he ordered. Elliot laughed Irritably. Ho was both annoyed and disgusted. "What do you want?" ho snapped. "You." "What's worrying you now? Do you think I'm Jumping my bond?" "You're going back to Kuslnk with me to give n life for tho one you tool:." "What's that?" cried Gordon, sur prised. "Just ns I'm telling you. I've been on your heels ever since you left town. You nnd Holt nro going bnck with mo as my prisoners.' "But what for?" "For robbing the bank and killing Robert Milton, ns you know well enough. "Is this nnother plnn nrranged for me by you and Selfrldge?" demnnded Elliot. Mncdonnld Ignored tho question nnd lifted his voice. "Como out of thnt tent, Holt nnd come with your hands up unless you wnnt your bend blown olT.v "Holt Isn't In that tent, you Wlot. If you want to know " "Come now, If you expect to como nllve.f cut In the Scotsmnn ominously. He raised the rifle to his shoulder nnd covered tho shndow thrown by the sun on the figure within. Gordon fiting'out it wild protest nnd threw the frozen slnb of bacon nt tho head of Macdonald. With the snmo mo tion he launched his own body ncross tho stove. A fifth of n second earlier tho tent flap had opened and Sheba had como out. The sight of hor paralyzed Macdon nld nnd saved her lover's life. It dis tracted the mine-owner long enough for him to miss his chnnce. A bullet struck the stovo nnd went off nt n tnngent through the tent ennvns not two feet from where Shcbn stood. A second went speeding townrd the sun. For Gordon had followed tho foothnll player's Instinct nnd dived for tho knees of his enemy. They went down together. Each squirming for tho upper plnce, they rolled over nnd over. Tho rlflo wns forgotten. Like cave men they fought, crushing and twisting ench other's muscles with the blind lust of prlmor dlnls to kill. As they clinched with ono nrm, they struck savagely with tho other. Tho Impact of smnshlng blows on naked flesh sounded horribly cruel to Sheba. Sho ran forward, calling on each by namo to stop. Probably neither knew she was there. Their whole attention wns focused on each other. Not for an Instant did their eyes wnnder, for life nnd death hung on tho Issue. Chance had lit tho spark of their re sentment, but long-banked passions were blazing fiercely now. They got to their feet and fought too to toe. Sledge-hnmmer blows beat upon bleeding nnd disfigured fnces. No thought of defense as yet wns In tho mind of either. Tho purpose of ench wns to bruise, malm, mnko helpless tho other. But for the Impotent llttlo cries of Sheba no sound broke the stillness snve the crunch of their feet on the hnrd snow, the thud of henvy fists on flesh, nnd tho throaty snnrl of their deep, Irregulnr breathing. Gld Holt, from the window of the cabin, watched the buttle with shining eyes. Ho exulted In every blow of Gordon; he suffered with him when the smnshlng rights nnd lefts of Mnc donnld got home. He shouted jeers, ndvlce, threats, encouragement. If ho had had ten thousnnd dollnrs wngered on the outcome he could not havo been more excited. Swlftwater Peter, drawn by tho cries of Sheba, enrao running from tho stuble. As ho passed tho window, Holt cnught him by the arm. "What are you almln' to do, Pete? Let 'em nlone. Let 'em go to It. They got to havo It out. Stop 'em now and they'll get nt It with guns." Sheba rnn up, wringing her hnnds. "Stop them, plense. They're killing ench other." vNothlng of tho kind, girl. You let 'em nlone, Pete. Tho kid's thero every minute, ain't he? Gee, that's u good one, boy. Seven eleven ninety-two. Attnboy 1" Mncdonnld had slipped on tho snow nnd gone down to his Iinnds nnd knees. Swift as a wildcat the younger mnn wns on top of him. llnmpered though ho was by his parka, tho Scotsman struggled slowly to his feet again, no was much the heavier mnn, nnd In splto of his yenrs tho stronger. Tho muscles stood out in knots on his shoulders nnd ncross his back, whereas on tho body of his moro slender oppo nent they flowed nnd rippled In round ed -symmetry. Active ns n henthcr cat, Elliot was far the quicker of tho two. Half-bllnded by the hnmmerlng ho hnd received, Gordon changed his method of lighting. Ho broko nwny from tho clinch nnd sidestepped tho bull-like rush of his foe, covering up ns well ns he could from tho onset. Mncdonnld pressed tho nttnek nnd wns beaten bnck by hard, straight lefts and rights to tho unprotected face. Tho mine-owner shook tho mnttcd hair from his swollen eyes and rushed ngnln. no caught an uppercut flush on tho end of tho chin. It did not even stop him. Tho weight of his body wns In the blow ho lushed up from his sldo. Tho knees of Elliot doubled up un der him like tho blndo of a Jack-knife. no sank down slowly, turned, got to his hands and knees, nnd tried to Bhnko off tho tons of weight that seemed to ho holding him down. Mncdonnld seized him nbout tho wnlst nnd flung him to tho ground. Upon tho Inert body tho victor dropped, his kntes clinching tho torso f the unconscious man. "Now, Pete. Go to hint 1" urn.ir Holt wildly. But before Swlftwuter could move, before the grcnt fist of Mncdonnld could smnsh down upon tho bleeding face upturned to his, a shnrp blow struck tho flesh of the rnlsed forenrm nnd for the moment stunned the mus cles. The Seoteh-Cnnndlnn lifted n countenance drunk with rage, passion tossed. Slowly tho light of reason came bnck Into his eyes. Sheba was standing bo fore him, his rifle In her hand. Sho had .struct: him with the butt of It. "Don't touch him I Don't you daro touch him I" she rhnllcngcd. Ho looked nt her long, then let his eyes fall to tho battered fnco of his enemy. Drunkenly ho got to his feet nn.l leaned ngalnst a willow. His V t TA-M.t.r Like Cave Men They Fought. forces were spent, his muscles weight ed ns with lend. But It was not this alone thnt made his breath come short and raggedly. Sheba had flung herself down besldo her lover. Sho had caught him tightly In her arms so thnt his disfigured fnco lay ngalnst her wnrm bosom. In tho eyes lifted to thote of the mine-owner wns an unconquerable defiance. "He's mine mine, you murderer," sho panted fiercely. "If you kill him, you must kill me first." Tho man she had once promised to marry was looking nt a different wom an from the girl he had known. Tho soft, shy youth of her wns gone. Sho wns n forest mother of tho wilds ready to fight for her young, n wife rendy to go to the stnke for the husband of her choice. An emotion prlmltlvo nnd polgnnnt had transformed her. Ills eyes burned nt her the question his parched lips nnd throat could scarcely utter. "So you . . . lovo him?" But though It was In form a question ho know already tho nnswer. For tho first tlmo In his life he began to tnsto the bitterness of defeat. Always ho had won what he coveted by brutal force or his stark will. But It was be yond him to compel the lovo of a girl who hnd given her heart to another. "Yes," sho answered. Her hair In two thick braids was flung across her shoulders, her dark head thrown back proudly from tho rounded thrnnt. Mncdonnld smiled, but thero was no mirth In his savngo eyes. "Do you know whnt I wnnt with hlra why I hnve como to get him?" "No." "I'vo como to tnke him back to Ku slak to bo hnnged becauso ho mur dered Milton, the bank cashier." Tho eyes of the woman blazed at him. "Are you mnd?" "It's tho truth." Mncdonnld's voice wns curt nnd harsh. "Ho and Holt were robbing tho bnnk when Milton came back from the danco nt tho club. Tho cownrds shot down tho old man. like a dog. They'll hang for It If It costs mo my last penny, so help mo God." "You sny It's tho truth," sho retort ed scornfully. "Do you think I don't know you now how you twist nnd dis tort facts to suit your ends? How long Is It since your Jackal had him arrest ed for assaulting you when Wnlly Sol frldgo knew nnd you knew that ho ' had 'risked his lifo for you and had saved yours by bringing you to Diane's nfter ho had bnndaged your wounds?" "Thnt was different. It wns part of tho giuno of politics wo wero plnylng." "You ndmtt thnt you and your friends lied then. Is It Hko you could persundo mo thnt you'ro telling tho truth now?" The big Alaskan shrugged. "Be lieve It or not ns you like. Anyhow, he's going bnck with mo to Kuslak and Holt, too, If bo's here." An excited cackle cut Into tho con versation, followed by n drnwllng nn nounccment from tho window. "Your old tllllcum Is right hero, Mnc. Whnt's tho uso of wnltlng? Why don't you hnvo your hnnglng-bco now?" (TO nn CONTINUED.) When the Lion Divides. Tho cnpltnllst would havo you bo Ilevo that civilization rests on tho ac cumulation of pounds, shillings and ponce pounds for tho cnpltnllst, shill ings for tho middlemen, und pence for tho workers. Sydney Australian Worker. Always Look Happy. Whyvdc. photographs of woman air plauu i!(pts always show them com peting for tho record In tho stnnding brond grin? Pittsburgh Gazotte-Times. & U N " fl f Vl -"?&$&: i--vr TPn''fiin!'! Wf' - - ifrtr ww.iiwi tmhv$mmmmhS2Xe