The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-22

wanted an invitation to dinner. Yet
she hesitated.
MY phone can't be working WELL"
Gordon told her gayly. "You must
have asked me to dinner. but I didn't
Just hear It. Never mind. I'll be there.
Seven o'clock. did you sayT'
Diane laughed. you're Just as
much a boy Is you were ten years
ago. Cord. All right. Come along. But
you're to leave at ten"
mo, I can't hear that. My phone
hns gone bad again. And II I had
heard, ! shouldn't think Of doing any.
thing so ridiculous as leaving at that
hour. II would be an Insult to your
hospitality. I know when I'm well
or"
Then I'll have to withdraw my in.
vitation. Perhaps some other day"
"Ill leave at ten." promised Elliot
meekly.
He could almost hear the smile In
her voice as she answered. every well.
Seven sharp. I'll explain about the
curfew limit some time"
Macdonald was with Miss O'Neill in
the living room when Gordon arrived
at the Paget home.
Sheba came forward to greet the
new guest. The welcome In her eyes
was very genuine.
"You and Mr.. Macdonald know each
other. Of course" she said after her
handshake.
The Scotsman nodded his lean, griz-
zled head. looking straight into the
eyes Of the field agent.
Eyes, ! know Mr.. Elliot-nov. I'm
not sure that he knows me-yet."
"Tm beginning to know you rather
we'll, Mr.. Macdonald" answered Cor
don quietly.
II the Alaskan wanted to declare
war he was ready for II. The field
agent knew that Selfridge had kept re-
ports detailing what had happened at
Kamatlah. Up to date Macdonald had
offered him the velvet glove. He Won
dered II the time had come when the
fist OF steel was to be doubled.
ibid you have a successful trip, Mr..
Elliotf" asked Sheba i%nnocently.
Paget grinned behind his hand. The
girls question was like a match to
powder, and everyone in the room
knew II but she. The engineers in
terests and his convictions were on the
that Elliot had been sent In to gather
facts for the government and not to
give advice TO II.
did you, Gordon?" echoed his host.
ess.
II think So" he answered quietly.
II hear you put up with old Gideon
Holt. Is he as cracked as he used to
be-" asked Macdonald.
"Was he cracked when you used to
know him on Frenchman creek?" coun.
tered the young man.
Macdonald shot a quick. slant look
| at him. The old man had been talk.
Ing. had hef
ale was cracked and broke, too"
laughed the mine owner hardly.
Cracked when he came, broke when
he left"
"Yes, that was one OF the stories he
told me-" Gordon turned TO Sheba.
"You should meet the old man, Miss
O'Neill. He knew your father at Daw.
son and on Bonanza"
The girl was all eagerness. "Td
like TO. Does he ever come to Ku.
siakf"
Nonsense |" cut In Diane sharply.
She flashed Gordon a look Of annoy.
ance. "He's nothing but a daft old
idiot. my dear"
The dinner had started wrong, and
though Paget steered the conversation
10 safer ground. II did not 20 very
well.
Gordon was ashamed Of himself. He
could not quite have told what were
the impulses that had moved him tc
carry the var into the camp Of the
enemy. Perhaps. more than anything
else, II had been a certain look Of quie,
assurance In the eyes Of his rival wher
he looked ut Sheba.
He rose promptly at ten.
"Must you go 80 soon7" Diane asked
She was smiling at him with biant
mockery.
II really must" answered Elliot.
His hostess followed him into tn,
hall. She watched him get into hi
coat before saying what was on heI
mind.
syuA.A AZ 1850 A-sts-- oN-x