The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-05-25

that ne was NOT implacaDle.
While they were at luncheon half Q
dozen packmules laden with supplies
for telephone construction line out
fit had passed. Their small, sharp-shod
hoofs had punched sink-holes In the
trail at every step. Instead of
smooth bottom the dogs found o
slushy bog cut to pieces.
AT the end of an hour of wallowing
Macdonald called a halt.
"There is cutoff just below here,
It will save us nearly two miles, but
we'll have to break trail. Swing to the
right just below the big willow" he
told Elliot. 'Tll join you presently
and relieve you on the job. But first
Miss O'Neill and I are going for lit
tie side trip"
All three of them looked at him in
sharp surprise. Gordon opened his
lips to answer and closed them again
without speaking. Sheba had flashed
a warning to him.
IT hope this trip isn't very far of
the TRAIL" she said quietly. 'Tm just
a wee bit tired"
: 'Its not far" the mine-owner said
CURLY.
He was busy unpacking his sled.
Presently he found the dog moccasins
for which he had been looking, re-
packed his sled, and fitted the shoes
to the bleeding feet Of the team lead
er. Elliot, suspicious and uncertain
what to do. watched him at work, but
at signal from Sheba turned re-
luctantly away and drove down to the
cutoff.
Macdonald turned his dogs out Of the
trail and followed little ridge for
perhaps quarter of mile. Sheba
trudged behind him. She was full Of
wonder at what he meant to do, hut
she asked no questions. Some wise in
stinct was telling her to do exactly as
he said.
From the sled he took a shovel and
gave it to the young woman. "Dig just
this side of the big rock--close to the
root of the tree" he told her.
Sheba dug, and at the second stroke
of the spade struck something hard.
He stopped and pulled out sack.
"Open it," he said. "Trip 1t with
this knife"
She ran the knife along the coarse
weave Of the cloth. Fifteen or twenty
smaller sacks lay exposed. Sheba
looked up at Macdonald, startled
question in her eyes.
He nodded. "You guessed 1t. This
is part of the gold for which Robert
Milton was murdered"
"But-how did 1t get here?"
II buried 1t there yesterday. Gomez
He led her around the rock. Back
Of It lay something over which was
spread long bit of canvas. The heart
Of Sheba was beating wildly.
The Scotsman looked at her from
rock-b0und face. Underneath this
canvas is the body of one Of the men
who murdered Milton. He died more
miserably than the man he shot. Half
the gold stolen from the bank Is in
that gunnysack You have Just dug up.
II you'll tell me who has the other
half, I'll tell you who helped him rob
The bank"
"This man-who is hep asked She
ba, almost in whisper. She was trem-
bling with excitement and nervous
ness.
Macdonald drew back the cloth and
showed the rough, hard face of work.
ngman.
Ellis name was Trelawney. kicked
aim out of our camps because he was
/ troublemaker."
"He was one of the men that robbed
you laterl" she exclaimed.
eyes. And now he has tried to rob
ne again and has paid for 1t with his
ife."
Her mind flashed back over the past.
'Then his partner In this last crime
must have been the same man-what's
his name?-that was with him last
ime."
"Northrup." He nodded slowly. 81
late to believe 1t, but it is probably
rue. And he, too, is lying somewhere
n this park covered with snow-if our
,uess is right"
Sand Gordon--you admit he didn't
10 it?'
Again he nodded, sulkily. "No. He
lidn't do It,"
Joy lifted in her voice. $50 you've
brought me here to tell me. Oh, ] am
Had, my friend, that you were SO good.
And it is like you to do 1t. You have
llways been the good friend to me-"
The Scotsman smiled, a little visit
ully. "You take mean advantage of
/ man. You nurse him when he's ILL
ind are kind to him when he is we'll
ind try to love him, though he is twice
vour age and more. Then, when his
enemy is in his power, he finds he
amt strike him down without striking
you too. Take your young man, Sheba
)'Neill, and marry him, and for Gods
,ake, get him out of Alaska before /
.ome to grips with him again. I'm
lot patient man, and he's tried me
'air. They say I'm good hater, and !
always thought it true. But what's
he use of hating a man, when your
loft arms are round him for an
lrmori"
The fine eyes Of the girl were wells
If warm light. Her gladness was not