Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-06-06
CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Way of Leaving a House.

The surge of disgust with which
Sheba had broken her engagement 10
marry Macdonald ebbed away as the
weeks passed. 1t was impossible for
her to wait upon him in his illness and
hold any repugnance toward this big,
elemental man. The thing he had done
might be wrong. but the very open
ness and frankness Of his relation to
Meteetse redeemed ii from shame. He
was neither a profiigate nor squaw-
man.
This was DANES point of view. and
In time Ii became to "a certain extent
that of Sheba. One takes on the color
of ones environment, and the girl from
Drogheda knew In her heart that Me
teetse and Colmac were no longer the
real barriers that stood between her
and the Alaskan. She had been dis
illusioned. saw him more clearly; and
though she still recognized the quality
of bigness that set him apart, her spirit
did not now do such complete homage
TO II. More and more her thoughts
contrasted him with another man.
Macdonald did not need TO be told
that he had lost ground. but with the
logged determination that had carried
him to success he refused TO accept
the verdict. She was a woman. there
/ fore to be won. The habit of victory
was so strong in him that he could see
no alternative.
The motor-car picnic To the Willow
Creek camp was case in point. Sheba
did not want to go bat she went. The
picnic was a success. Macdonald was
an outdoor man rather than a parlor
one. He took charge of the luncheon,
lit the fire. and cooked the coffee with
out the least waste OF effort. In his
shirt sleeves, the neck open at the
throat, he looked the embodiment of
masculine vigor. Diane could not
help mentioning il TO her cousin.
isn't he a splendid human animal?''
Sheba nodded. Hes wonderful"
IF l were little Irish colleen and
he had done me the honor to care for
me, I'd have fallen fathoms deep In
love with him"
The Irish colleen's eyes grew reflec-
tive. "Not if you had seen Peter first,
hi. There's nothing reasonable about
girl do believe. She loves-or else
she just doesn't"
Diane fired u question at her point
blank. "Have you met your Peter? Is
that why you hang back?"
The color famed into Sheba's face
"Of course not. You do say the most
outrageous things. d."
They had driven to Willow Greek
over the river road. They returned
by way of the hills. Macdonald drew
up in front of cabin to fill the radi
ator.
He stood listening beside the car
the water bucket in his hand. Some
thing unusual was going on inside the
house. There came the sound of q
thud. of groan, and then the crasl
of breaking glass. The whole window
frame seemed to leap from the side
, of the house. The head and shoulder.
of man projected through the broker
glass.
The man swept himself free of tn,
? debris and started to -un. Instant,
he pulled up In his stride, as amazed
to see those in the car as they were t6
see him.
, "Gordon !" cried Diane.
Out of the house poured a rush o.
men. They too pulled up abruptly a
sight of Macdonald and his guests.
A sardonic mirth cleaned In I'M
eyes of the Scotsman. "Do you oil
, ways come out of house through TIL
wall, Mr.. Elliott" he asked.
"Only when I'm in hurry" Cor
don pulled out handkerchief ant
dabbed at some glass-cuts on his face.
!, Don't let us detain you" said tn
Alaskan satirlcally. "We1l excuse you
since you must CO."
/, "I'm not In such a hurry now. II
! fact, If you're going to Kusiak. l thin
, I'll ask you for lift" returned tn
field agent coolly.
"And your friends-in-a-hurry ID
they want lift tool"
Big Bill Macy came swaylng fol
ward, both hands to his bleeding heat
! Hes spy. curse him. And he trie