The Red Cloud chief., 1918-01-31

he had always taken. by the sheer
strength that was In him. Back of her
smiling insolence lay a silken force
what she wanted from life, but she
had won 1t by indirection. Manifestly
she was Of those women who conceive
that charm and beauty are tools to
bend men to their wills.
The dusky young woman with the
magazine was the first Of those on the
upper deck to retire for the night. She
fitted so quietly that Gordon did not
notice until she had gone. Mrs. Self
ridge and her friends disappeared with
their men folks. calling gay good
nights to one another as they left.
Macdonald and Mrs. Mallory talked.
After a time she too vanished.
The big promoter leaned against the
deck rail, where he was Joined by Self
ridge. For a long time they talked In
low voices. The little man had most to
say. His chief listened, but occasion
ally interrupted to ask a sharp, incisive
question.
Elliot, sitting farther forward with
Strong, Judged that Selfridge was max
ing a report of his trip. Once he
caught a fragment of their talk, enough
to confirm this impression.
did Winton tell you that himselff"
demanded the Scotsman.
The answer of his employee came In
a murmur SO low that the words were
lost. But the name used told Gordon
q good deal. The commissioner of the
general land office at Washington
signed his letters Harold B. Wlnton.
Strong tossed the stub Of his ciga-
rette overheard and nodded good night.
A glance at his watch told Elliot that
1t was past two o'clock. He rose,
stretched and sauntered back to his
stateroom.
The young man had Just taken OF
his coat when there came the hurried
rush Of trampling feet upon the hur-
ricane deck above. Almost instantly
he heard q cry Of alarm. He could hear
the shufling Of footsteps and the sound
of heavy bodies moving.
Someone lifted a frightened shout.
"Helpi Helpw The call had come,
ne thought, from SelIrlOge.
Gordon flung open the door Of his
room. raced along the deck and took
the stairs three at q time. A huddle
Of men swayed and shifted heavily In
front Of him.
Even as he ran toward the mass,
Elliot noticed that the only sounds
were grunts. stertorous breathings,
and the scraping Of feet. The attack
ers wanted no publicity. The attacked
was too busy to waste breath in futile
cries. He was fighting for his life.
Two men. separated from the crowd,
lay on the deck farther aft. One was
on top of the other, his fingers clutch
Ing the gullet Of his helpless opponent
The agony Of the man underneath
found expression only In the drumming
heels that beat a tattoo on the floor
The spasmodic feet were shOd In Ok
ford tans of an ultra-fashionable cut
No doubt the owner Of the smart foot
wear had been pulled down as he wal
escaping to shout the alarm.
The IN hurdled the two In hi!
stride and plunged straight ut thu
struggling tangle. He caught n maj
by the shoulders from behind and fluni
him back. He struck hard. smashing
blows as he fought his way to the hear
of the melee. Heavy-fsted miners will
corded muscles landed upon his fac
and head and neck. He did not car
a straw for the odds.
The sudden attack Of Elliot hat
opened the pack. The man battling
against a dozen was Colby Macdonald
The very number Of his foes hat
saved him SO far from being rushe,
overheard or trampled down. His Goa
and shirt were In rags. He was bruise,
and battered and bleeding from tn
chest up. But he was still sluggin
hard.
They had him pressed to the rail. !
huge miner, head down. had his arm
around the waist of the Scotsman an
was trying to throw him overheard
Macdonald dashed out and landed fius
upon the cheek of a man attempting t
brain him with a billet of wood. II
hammered home a short-arm jol
against the ear Of the giant who wa
giving him the bear grip.
The big miner grunted, but hung o
like a football tackler. With a jer
>. he raised Macdonald from the fioo
lust as three or four others rushed hir
again. The rail gave way, splintere
y like kindling wood. The Scotsman an
= the man at grips with him went owe
II the side together.
Clear and loud rang the voice Of e
lot. "Man overheard"
u The wheelsman signaled to the Ell
ID CINE room to reverse and blew shor
g. sharp shrieks of warning.
u "Men overboard--two of 'em" e,
r planned Elliot In a shout from the bot
Up which he was trying to lower.
The first mate and another man ra
as to help him. The three of them Low
s. cred and manned the boat. Gordon S,
IL In the bow and gave directions viii
Il the other two put their backs int