Gilpin observer., 1918-05-23

learns that Macdonald and Eheba
CHAPTER xI-contlnued.
-
Presently he spoke thickly. II SUD
poee you have heard that he was a
Squaw man"
That's ridiculous. Don't be absurd,
Gordon"
TITS the truth. I've seen the woman.
HE was pointed out to me-"
by old Gideon Holt likely" shs
aashad.
zone could get evidence and show It
b MiAs O'Neill." he said aloud. to him
ielf rather than to her.
Diane put her point Of view before
him with heated candor. ''You couldn't.
Nobody but cad would rake up old
scandals about the man who has beat
"a him fairly for q woman's love-"
You beg the question. Has he won
fairiyf"
sOf course he has. Be good sport,
Gordon. Don't kick on the umpire's
decision. Play the game"
sThAt's all very well. But what
about herr Am to at quiet while
uhe II sacrificed to Q code Of honor
hat seems 10 me rooted In dishonorf"
q "6he II not being sacrificed. Tn
her cousin. Tn very fond Of her. And
"a trust her with Colby Macdonald"
PLAY fair. Diane. Tell her the truth
about this Indian woman and let your
eousin decide for herself. You can't
10 less. can your
Mn. Paget was distinctly annoyed.
you ought to be ashamed Of yourself.
Gordon Elliot. You take all the COS
nip Of a crack-brained old idiot for
gospel truth Just because you want
to believe the worst about Mr.. Mac
donald. Colby Macdonald is too big
and too aggressive not to have made
hundreds Of enemies. His life has been
threatened dozens Of times. But no
pays no attention to it-goes right on
building up this country. Yet you'd
think he had a cloven hoof to hear
some people talk. I've no patience
with them"
The woman's name Is Meteetse,"
Gordon said In an even voice, just MS
4 he were answering a question. "She
Ii young and good-looking for an In
dian. Her boy is four or five years old.
Colmac. they call him. and he looks
Just like Macdonald"
people are always tracing resem-
blances. There's nothing to that. But
suppose his life was irregular-years
ago. This isn't Boston. 1t used to be
the fringe of civilization. Men did as
hey pleased in the early days"
~This wasn't in the early days. 1t
was five years ago, when Macdonald
w1s examining the Kamatlah coal field.
I'm told he sends a check down the
river once month for the woman"
"All the more credit to him II he
does" Diane rose and looked storm
lily down Mt her friend. You're about
As broad as clam, Gordon. Can't you
see that even II It's true. all that is
done with? 1t is part of his past
and It's finished-trodden underfoot.
II hasn't a thing to do with Sheba."
II don't agree with you. A man
can't cut loose entirely from his past.
II is part Of him-and Macdonalds
past isn't good enough for Sheba
o'Neill."
Diane tapped her little foot impa.
hently on the floor. do you know
= many men whose pasts are good
enough for their wives? Colby Mac.
aonald is good enough for any woman
ulive II he loves her enough"
You don't know him."
II know him far better than you do
He II the biggest man know, and now
thnt he Ia In love with a good woman
he'll rise to his chance"
"6he ought to be told the truth
about Asteetse and her boy" no in
listed doggedly.
Mrs.. Paget lost her temper complete
y. docs the government pay yor
% mind other peoples business. Cor
1onr Ghe snapped.
II wouldn't be working for the gov
nnmsnf then. but for Eheba O'Nelll'
"And for Gordon Mliot. You'd b,
lolng undsEhand WORK for him TOO
Don't 1pryst tha& You can't 10 Il
You're MT int hind Of Q man. \
INIT = ~ . = mue1Daking in ~
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