davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07

I'm not heartless," said Macdonald
inpatiently. "Of course did that. 1
had to do it. couldn't do less.''
Nor more" she suggested. "You
may have made hard bargain with
MIN, but you wiped that out later"
That's just what didn't do. Don't
think my conscience is troubling me.
I'm not such mush-brained fool. If
1t had not been for you 1 would never
nave thought Of it again. But you are
his daughter. What l cheated him out
OF belongs to yOu-and you are my
friend"
Don't use that word about what you
did, please. He wasn't child. If
you got the best Of him in a bargain,
I don't think father would think of it
that way"
The difficulty was that he could not
tell her the truth about her fathers
weakness for drink and how he had
played upon it. He bridged all expla-
nations and passed to the thing he
meant to do in PREPARATION.
"The money cleaned up from that
claim belongs to you, Miss O'Neill. You
will 'oblige me by taking it."
From his pocket he took a folded
paper and handed it to her. Sheba
opened it doubtfully. The paper con.
tanned typewriter statement and to
1t was attached check by means of q
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07
by William Macleod Rainel

NJ A'f TIN
,rrc II-Elliot secures an introduce
- Miss O'Neill and while the boat is
~ a. IN freight the pair set out to climb
ILL., s,,v famous mountain. They venture
s,.b and reach Il position from which it
p ,usossible for Miss O'Neill to 90 forward
|, turn back.
..,.prrR Iy-Elliot leaves Sheba and at
Tent peril of his life goes for assist
He meets Macdonald who had be-
~ =. alarmed for their safety, and they re-
- and rescue Shcba.
ru.rrrR V-Landing ut Kusiak Elliot
8. that old friends of his, Mr.. and Mrs.
sn are the people whom Sheba has come
s.,s;t Mrs. Iagct is Sheba'S cousin. At
49, Elliot reveals to Macdonald the OBJ
-. ~ his coming to Alaska. The two men.
t..uraIly antagoaistic. now also become
s..Is for the hand of Sheba.
n,,,prrR VI-Macdonald, foreseeing fail
.. ~ his financial plans if Elliot learns
=. facts. sends Sclfridge to Kamatlah tC
...snpe matters so that Elliot will be de-
..,ved as to the true situation.
ru ,prrR yT-Elliot. on his way to IA
..,.h wanderS from the trail. He loses
=. horse in a marsh and is compelled to
..,,v away rifle and provisions and al
+ ..recessury clothing. After long struggles
= realizes that he will never reach Ka
J matlah, and resigns himself to death.
cuAprER VIII At Kamatlah, Gideon
uolt old prospcctor and bitter enemy o.
Macdonald, learns of Elliot's coming ant
Sosarmines to let him know the truth. Sci
fridge has Holt kidnapped and taken on ;
..nrcspccting expedition. Elliot. barrel!
alive. wanders into their camp and is caret
for.
CHAPTER IX-IIolt recognizes Elliot ant
thc two oyerpower the kidnappers ant
reach KamatIah. Holt gives Elliot the rea
facts concerning the coal lands deal.
CHAPTER N-Having all the information
he wanted. Elliot, with Holt as guide, gOe
hack to Kusiak. TN the way they meet
souaw. Meteetse, with her child, who i
Nacdonald's son. Keachink kusiak Ellfo
becomes convinced that Diane Mrs. Iaget
l. doing her utmost to induce Sheba t
marry Macdonald. He determines to vii
her for himself.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07
CHAPTER XII.
Genevieve Mallory Takes 4 Hand.

Genevieve Mallory Takes Hand.
Inside of an hour the news Of the
engagement Of Macdonald was all over
Kusiak. It was through a telephone
receiver that the gossip was 5uzzed
to Mrs. Mallory by friend who owed
her little stab. The voice of Gene
We've Mallory registered faint amuse-
ment, but as soon as she had hung up.
her face fell into haggard lines. She
had staked year Of her waning youth
on winning the big mining man OF
Kusiak, together with oil the money
that she had been able to 'scrape up
for the campaign outfit. Moreover, she
liked him.
Mrs. Mallory sat down In the hall
beside the telephone, her fingers laced
about one crossed knee. She knew
that If Sheba O'Neill had not come on
the scene, Macdonald would have
asked her to marry him. He had been
moving slowly toward her for months.
They understood each other and were
at ease togethex. Between them was a
strong physical affinity.
Then Diane Paget had brought In this
slim, young cousin of hers and Colby
Macdonald had been fascinated by the
mystery of her innocent youth. Mrs.
Mallory was like steel beneath the soft
and indolent surface. Swiftly she
mapped her plan Of attack. The Alas
kan could not be moved, but it might
be possible to startle the girl into
breaking the engagement.
But before she made any move Mrs.
Mallory intended to be sure of her
facts. 1t was like her to 60 to head
quarters for information. She got
Macdonald on the wire.
"Tve just heard something nice
about you. Do tell me it's true" she
| said, her voice warm with sympathy.
Macdonald laughed with almost boy
ish embarrassment. 'sIt's true,
! reckon"
'T'm so glad. She's lovely girl
The sweetest thing that ever lived
I'm sure you'll be happy. always die
think you would make perfect hus
band. OF course, I'm simply greer
with envy Of her."
/ Her little ripple Of laughter was ga!
and care-free. The man at the Othe
end Of the line never had liked her bet
ter. She was game little sport, h
told himself apprOvingly. It appeale'
to him immensely that she could TAX
such facer and come up smiling.
There were no signs of worry wrin
kles on her face when the maid ad
mitted a caller half an hour latel
Oliver Dustin was the name on tn
card. He was remittance man,
tame little parlor pet whose vocatio
was to fetch and carry for pretty won
en-, and by some odd trick of fate h
had sifted into the Northland. Mr.
!. Mallory had tolerated him rattle
scornfully, but today she smiled upo
him..
: Dustin helped himself to cigarett
, and made himself comfortable.
She set herself to win him. He We
Immensely flattered at her awakene
2 interest. When she called him by h
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07

pays no attention to it-g0es 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 as
If he were answering a question. "She
is young and good-lo0king 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
they pleased in the early days"
"This wasn't In the early days. It
was five years ago. when Macdonald
was examining the Kamatlah coal field.
I'm told he sends check down the
river once a month for the woman"
"All the more credit to him If he
does" Diane rose and looked storm
lily down at her friend. you're about
as broad as clam, Gordon. Can't you
see that even If It's true, all that is
done with? It is a part Of his past
and it's finished-trodden underfoot
| It hasn't thing to do with Sheba. =
II don't agree with you. A man
can't cut loose entirely from his past
It is part of him-and Macdonald's
past isn't good enough for Shebs
O'Neill."
Diane tapped her little foot impa
tiently on the floor. do you know
many men whose pasts are goot
enough for their wives? Colby Mac
donald is good enough for any woman
alive If he loves her enough"
"You don't know him."
81 know him far better than you do
He is the biggest man ! know, and nov
that he is in love with good womal
he'll rise to his chance"
"She ought to be told the trutl
about Meteetse and her boy" he II
sisted doggedly.
Mrs. Paget lost her temper complete
~. "Does the government pay 20
to mind other peoples business, Col
donY she snapped.
81 wouldn't be working for the go,
eminent then, but for Sheba O'Neill.
"And for Gordon Elliot You'd b
doing underhand work for him to,
Don't forget that. You can't do l
You're not that kind Of man.
isn't in you to 60 undertaking in tn
past of the man Sheba is going
marry"
Elliot rose and looked across ut I'll
blue-ribbed mountains. His sQual
jaw was set when he turned 1t bac
toward Diane.
"She isn't going to marry him II
can help It," he said quietly.
Il He walked out of the gate and dow
/ the walk toward his hotel.
o A message was waiting for him the
from his chief in Seattle. It called hi
IS down the river on business.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07

spare her pain was stronger in him
than the desire that she should know
the truth.
''Send her away" he urged. Don't
ask any questions. She has been sent
to hurt YOU"
A fawnlike fear flashed into the star
tied eyes, ITO hurt meY
II am afraid so"
'.But-why? l have done nobody
any HARM" She seemed to hold even
her breathing in suspense.
perhaps some Of Macdonald's enc
miles," he suggested.
And at that there came a star-fash
into the soft eyes and lifted tilt Of
the chin cut fine as cameo. She
turned proudly to the Indian woman.
"Nhat is 1t that you have to tell me
about this boys father?'
Meteetse began to speak. At the
first mention of Macdonald's name
Sheba's eyes dilated. Her smile. her
| sweet, glad pleasure at Gordon's arr.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07

and she did not know that her cousin
and Elliot were on the porch until
she was close upon them. But at sight
of the young man her eyes became
warm and kind.
I'm sorry / was out yesterday when
you called" she told him.
"And you were out again today. My
luck isn't very good. is itT'
He laughed pleasantly, but his heart
was bitter. He believed Macdonald
had won.
"We've had such good walk" She
ba went on quickly. Il wish you could
have heard Mr. Macdonald telling me
how he had chance to save small
Eskimo tribe during hard winter. He
carried food five hundred miles to
them. It was a thrilling experience"
"Mr. Macdonald has had lot Of
very interesting experiences. You must
get him to tell you about all of them, "
answered Gordon quietly.
The eyes of the two men met. The
steel-gray ones of the older man an
swered the challenge of his rival with
a long, steady look. There was in 1t
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07
"Ans ! to Congratulate Mr.. Macdon.
atd?"

something of triumph, something Of
scornful insolence. Ifsthis young fell
low wanted war, he did not need to
wait long for it.
"Time enough for that, man. Miss
O'Neill and / have the whole Arctic
winter before US for stories"
The muscles in the lean jaws of Cor
don Elliot stood out like steel ropes.
He turned to Sheba. "Am to con-
graduate Mr.. Macdonald"
The color in her cheeks grew warm
err but her shy glance met his fairly.
II think it is / that am to be congrat-
ulated, Mr.. Elliot"
Diane took her cousin in her arms.
my dear, wish you oil the happi-
ness in the world" she said softly.
The Irish girl fled into the house
as soon as she could, but not before
making an announcement.
"We're to be married soon, very quiz
city. If you are still at Kusiak we
want you to be one Of the few friends
present, Mr.. Elliot"
Macdonald backed her invitation
with cool, cynical smile. Miss
O'Neill speaks for us both, Of course.
Elliot"
The defeated man bowed. "Thanks
very much. The chances are that I'll
be through my business before then"
As soon as his fiancee had gone into
the house, the Scotsman left. Gordon
sat down in a porch chair and stared
straight in front Of him. The sudden
ness of the news had brought his world
| tumbling about hisscars He felt that
such marriage would be an outrage
against Sheba's innocence.
Though she was sorry for him, Diane
did not think it best to say so yet.
| Presently he spoke thickly. Il sup
pose you have heard that he was a
squaw man."
"That's ridiculous. Don't be absurd,
Gordon"
'It's the truth. I've seen the woman
She was pointed out to me-"
"By old Gideon Holt, likely" she
flashed.
Zone could get evidence and show II
to Miss O'Neill," he said aloud, to him
self rather than to her.
Diane put her point of view before
him with heated candor. "You couldn't
Nobody but cad would rake up ole
1 scandals about the man who has beat
en- him fairly for woman's love-"
'You beg the question. Has he VOL
fairly?"
"Of course he has. Be good sport
Gordon. Don't kick on the umpire
decision. Play the game"
4 "That's oil very well. But wha
about her? Am I to sit quiet Will
she is sacrificed to code of homo
that seems to me rooted in dishonor?
"She is not being sacrificed. In
her cousin. I'm very fond Of her. An
I'd trust her with Colby Macdonald"
Il "Play fair, Diane. Tell her the trut
about this Indian woman and let you
cousin decide for herself. You can
do less, can yOu?"
Mrs. Paget was distinctly annoyed
Il "You ought to be ashamed of yourself
Gordon Elliot. You take all the 60:
sip of a crack-brained old idiot II
gospel truth just because you wal
TO believe the worst about Mr.. Ma
donald. Colby Macdonald is too b1
.,nd FOO aggressive not to have mao
n '--.'S If enemies His life has bee
II dozens Of times. But !
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07

clip. The check. was made out to her
and signed by Colby Macdonald. The
amount it called for was $183,431.
"Oh, couldn't take this, Mr.. Mac
donald-I couldn't. 1t doesn't belong
to me-" she cried.
ut belongs to you-and you're going
to take it,"
II wouldn't know what to do with
so much.''
'The bank will take care Of it for
you until you decide. So that's set
tied" He passed definitely from the
subject. "There's something else I
want to say to you, Miss O'Neill."
Some change in his voice warned
her. The girl slanted q quick, shy
glance at him.
II want to know If you'll marry me,
Miss O'Neill," he shot at her abruptly.
Then, without giving her time to an
swer, he pushed on: "I'm older than
you-by twenty-five years. Always
I've lived on the frontiers. I've had
to take the world by the throat and
shake from 1t what wanted. So I've
grown hard and willful. All the sweet,
fine things Of life I've missed. But
with you beside me, I'm not too old
to find them yet-if you'll show me the
way, Sheba."
A wave of color swept into her face
but her eyes never faltered from his
"Tm not quite sure" she said In low
voice.
"You mean-whether you love me?'
She nodded. "I-admire you more
than any man ever met. You are
great man, strong and powerful
and l am so insignificant beside you
lam drawn to you-so much. But
/ AM not sure
"T'm going away for two days. Per
haps when come back you will know
Sheba. Take your time. Marriage Il
serious business. 1 want you to re
member that my life has been yer,
different from yours. You'll hear al
sorts of things about me. Some o
them are true. There Is this differ
ence between a man and good won
an. He fights and falls and fights agai
and wins. But good woman Is finel
She has never known the fixture tina
drags one through slime and mud. He
goodness is born in her; she doesn
have to fight for it."
The girl smiled a little tremulousl!
doesn't she? We're not all angels
you know"
II hope you're not. There will nee
to be lot of the human in you
make allowances for Colby Macdol
add" he replied with an answerin
smile.
When he said good-by it was with
warm, strong handshake.
'Tll be back in two days. PerhaI
you'll have good news for me then
ne suggested.
The dark, silken lashes Of her ey'
lifted shyly to meet his.
perhaps" she said.
During the absence of Macdona
,, The field agent saw less of Sheba ths
he had expected, and when he did $
her she had an abstracted manner
r did not quite understand. She kept
: her own room a good deal, except VIII
. she took long walks into the hills ba
= of the town. Diane had shrewd id
that the Alaskan had put his foftu
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07
CHAPTER xi.
Sheba Says "Perhaps."

UDeylnS Iue OTucIS VI Inc ScAC1uA
h command, Peter took himself to his
den with the excuse that he had blue
orints to work over. Presently Diane
aid she thought she heard one of the
children crying and left to investigate.
The Scotsman strobe to the fireplace
and stood looking down into the glow
lne Goals. He seemed in no hurry to
break the silence and Sheba glanced
1t his strong brooding face little APP
prehensively. She knew Of only one
subject that would call for so formal
/ private talk between her and Mac
donald, and any discussion of this she
would very much have liked to post.
pons.
He turned from the fire to Sheba. It
was Characteristic of him that he
plunged straight at what he wanted
to say.
1--WE asked to see you alone, Miss
O'Neill, because want to make con-
iession and restitution-t0 begin
with" he told her abruptly.
She had a sense of suddenly stilled
pulses. "That sounds very serious"
The young woman smiled family.
His face of chiseled granite masked
all emotion. 1t kept under lock and
key the insurgent impulses that moved
him when he looked into the sloe eyes
charged with reserve. Back of them.
he felt. was the mystery of purity. OF
maidenhood. He longed to know her
better, to find out and to appropriate
tor himself the woman that lay behind
The fine veil of flesh. She seemed to
him delicate as a fame and as vivid.
There would come day when her in
accent, passiOnal nature would re-
,pond to the love of man as wait
Ing harp does to skillful fingers.
"My story goes away back to the
E.ondike days. I told you that /
knew your father ON Frenchman creek,
but l didn't say much about knowing
him on Bonanza"
'Alr. Strong has told me something
abou: the days on Bonanza, and knew
you would tell me more some day
when you wanted to speak about it."
"Tour father was among the first OF
those who stampeded to Bonanza. He
and Strong took claim together.
bought out the interest of your ia
ther."
"You told me that"
His masterful eyes fastened to hers
! Il didn't tell you that took advan'
tage of him. He was-not well.
used that against him in the bargain
Ing. He wanted ready money, and
tempted him."
"Do you mean that you-wronget
him?'
Eyes. I cheated him.. He resolved
to gloss over nothing, to offer no ex
cnses. II didn't know there was golt
In the claim, but / had what we cal
a bunch. I took the claim withou
giving value received"
"But-I don't understand" He
brave, steady eyes looked directly int
those of Macdonald. IF he felt yo'
had-done him wrong-why did h
come to you when he was ill?"
HE was coming to demand just1c
Of me. On the way he suffered ez
posture and caught pneumonia. TIL
word reached us, and Strong and
brought him to our cabin"
You faced Il blizzard to bring him L
Mr.. Strong told me how you risked yo'
life by carrying him through the storm
how you wouldn't give up and leave hir
though you were weak and staggering you
self. He says it was miracle you ev'
got through"
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07

first name, he wagged all over like .
pie ased puppy.
1t came to him after time that she
was considering him for a confidential
mirsion. He assured her eagerly that
the re was no trouble too great for him
to take if he could be of any service
to her. Their heads were close In
whispered talk for few minutes, at
the end of which Dustin left the room
with his chin in the air. He was
knight Grant in the employ of the
NEST attractive woman north of fifty
three.
When Elliot took the dOwrriver
boat he found Oliver Dustin was fel-
low passenger. The little man smoked
an occasional cigar with the land agent
and aired his views on politics and at
fairs social. He left the boat at the
big bend.
Not till a week later did Elliot re-
turn up the river. He was asleep at
the time the Sarah passed the big
bend, but next morning he discovered
that Selfridge and Dustin had come
aboard during the night. In the after.
noon he came upon real surprise
when he found Meteetse and her little
boy Colmac seated upon box on the
lower deck where freight for local
points was stored.
| His guess was that they were local
passengers. but wharf after wharf
slipped behind them and the two still
remained on board. They appeared
to know nobody else on the Sarah
though once Gordon met Dustin just al
he was hurrying away from the Indian
woman.
Meteetse transferred with the othel
/ Kusiak passengers at the river juno
ton. The field agent was not the onl!
one on board who wondered WHERE
she was going. Selfridge was con
sumed with curiosity. and when sh'
and the boy got off at Kusiak, he coult
restrain himself no longer. GOrdOl
saw Wally talking with her. Meteets
! showed him an envelope which evi
IDENTIFY had an address written upon II
for the little man pointed out to he
:. the direction in which she must 60.
Since leaving Kusiak nearly tw
weeks before, no word had reaches
, Gordon OF Sheba. AS soon as he ha
finished dinner Mt the hotel, he Wake
out to the Paget house and sent II
his card.
. Sheba came into the hall to NEE
him from the living room where sh
had been sitting with the man she e.
pected to marry next week. She CAV
little murmur of pleasure at sight (
him and held out both hands.
II was afraid you weren't going
get back In time. I'm so glad" sh
told him warmly.
He managed to achieve smil
"When Is the great day?"
"Next thursday. OF course wei
us busy as can be. but Diane says
G A ring at the door interrupted he
D Sheba stepped forwsrd and let In Q
Indian woman with little boy elm
ing to her hand.
"You Miss O'Neill?" she asked.
"Yes."
From the folds Of her shawl 81
e drew letter. The girl glanced ut Il
4 address, racn opened and read VIII
e was written. She looked up, puzzle
d first ut the comedy, flat-foOted Indis
d woman and afterward at the handson
= little brown-faced papoose. She turn'
E to Gordon.
,, "This letter says l am to ask til
e1 woman who Is the father of her be
h What does 1t mean"
II Gordon knew instantly what
y meant, though he could not guess wi
p had dealt the blow. The impulse
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-07

lN back the simple e be contened with simple food,
simple pleasures simple clothes. Work hard, hard,
play Work. sleep. Do it all
geousIy. We have victory to win HOOVER
Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-12-13
TRUSTEES SALE
REAL ESTATE

BY virtue of the authority vested in
the undersigned trustee, by a deed Of
trust executed by Frank sheard and
Ida o. Slieard, his wife. to r. r..
Butts, Trustee, bearing date the 18th
day of February, 1915, and which is
of record In the office of the Clerk
of the County Court OF Berkeley Coun-
ty, West Virginia, in Deed OF Trust
Book No s, page 432, said Trustee
will offer at public auction to the
highest bidder, at the front door Of
the Court House, in Martinsburg, Ber-