The Dolores star., 1918-05-17

The DARK, Sllken ldsucS u ueE eyes
lifted shyly to meet his.
"Perhaps," she said.
During the absence Of Macdonald
the field agent saw less Of Sheba than
he had expected, and when he did see
her she had an distracted manner he
did not quite understand She kept to
her own room a good deal, except when
she took long walks into the hills back
Of the town. Diane had shrewd idea
that the Alaskan had put his fortune
TO the test, and she not only let her
cousin alone herself. but Tended Cor
don from her ndroitly.
The third day after the dinner FL
Hot dropped around to the Pagets with
intent to get Sheba into a set of ten
mis-. Diane sat on the porch darning
socks.
"Sheba is out walking with Mr.. Mac
donald" she explained in answer to
question us to the whereabouts Of her
guest.
'Oh, he's back, is he7" remarked
Gordon moodily.
"He came back this morning. Sheba
has gone up with him to see the Lucky
Strike"
you're going to marry her to that
man II you can, aren't you" he
charged.
''If can. Gordon" She slipped a
darning ball into one Of little Peters
stockings and placidly trimmed the
hole.
"It's what I call a conspiracy"
els it," Diane smiled.
Gordon understood her smile to
mean he was Jealous.
Maybe am. That's not the point"
he answered, Just rs IL she had made
her accusation In words.
Suppose you tell me what the point
is" she suggested.
HE isn't good enough for her. You
know that perfectly WELL"
"GOOd enOugh!" She shrugged her
shoulders. "What man is good enough
for nice girl. If you come to that7
There are other things besides sugary
goodness. Any man who Is strong can
make himself good enough for the
woman he loves"
Generally speaking. yes. But Colby
Macdonald is different"
"Thank heaven he is," she retorted
impatiently. Then added after n mo-
ment: "He Isn't Sunday-school su-
perintendent II that's what you mean
'That isn't what mean at all. But
there's such thing as a difference
between right and wrong, isn't there2"
"Oh, yes. For instance, Mr.. Mac
donald is right about the need of de-
veloplng Alaska and the way to do 1t,
and you are wrong"
"Fm not talking about essential
right and wrong. Miss O'Nein is ideal
izing Macdonald. I don't suppose
you've told her, for instance that he
made his first money in the. North
running a dance hall"
"No, haven't told her any such
thing, because it isn't true" she re-
piled scornfully. "He owned an opera
house and brought in a company of
players. I dare say they danced.
That's very different, as you'd know If
you didn't have astigmatism of the
mind"
"Not the way the story was told me.
But let that pass. Does she know that
Macdonald beat her father out of one
of the best claims on Bonanza and was
Indirectly responsible for his death?"
whats the use Of talking nonsense,
Gordon. You know you can't prove
that" his friend told him sharply.
Il think l can-if it Is necessary"
Diane looked across at him with an
impudent little tilt of the chin. Il
don't think like you as well as 1
used to-"
"Sorry. because I'd like you Just as
well, Diane, If you would stop trying
to manage your cousin into q marriage
that will spoil her life." he answered
gravely. "The happiness of Miss
O'Neill Is Of. very great Importance to
me-"
do you mean-?" Wide-eyed, she
looked her question straight at him.
That's just what mean, Diane"
She darned for a minute in silence.
1t had occurred to Diane before that
perhaps Gordon might be in love with
Sheba. but she had put the thought
from her bacause she did not want
to believe 1t.
THAT'S different Gordon. It ex-
plains-and in a way excuses-your
coming here and trying to bully me-"
She stopped her work to flash a uues-
tlon at him. "Don't you think that
maybe it's only a fancy of yours? I
remember you used"
He shook his head. mo chance
Diane. I'm hard hit. She's the only
girl ever met that suited me. Every
thing she does is right. Every move
she makes is wonderful"
The eyes with which she looked at
him were softer. as those of women
are wont to be for the true romance.
You poor boy" she murmured, and
let her hand for a moment rest on his.
Meaning that lose1" he asked
quickly. -,
II think you do. I'm not sure
Elliot 1oAnoH fnr-~NN t,,,n~,-,