The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-04-25

The dark, silken lashes Of her 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 adroitly.
The third day after the dinner Ell
liot dropped around to the Pagets with
intent to get Sheba into set Of ten
mis-. Diane sat on the porch darning
socks.
"Sheba is out walking with Mr.. Mac
donald" she explained in answer to a
question as to the whereabouts Of her
| guest.
"Oh. he's back, is he?" 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 you7" he
charged.
'f 1 can, Gordon" She slipped
dnrning ball into one of little Peters
stockings and placidly trimmed the
hole.
'It's whnt I call a conspiracy"
SIS itf" Diane smiled.
Gordon understood her smile to
mean he wns jealous.
Maybe am. That's not the point"
he answered, just as II 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! I" She shrugged her
shoulders. what man is good enough
for nice girl. II 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"
'1Thank heaven he is" she retorted
impatiently. Then added after a mo-
ment: "He isn't Sunday-school su-
perintendent IL that's what you mean
'That isn't what mean at all. But
there's such a thing as difference
between right and wrong. isn't there7"
"Oh, yes. For instance, Mr.. Mac
donald is right about the need Of de-
veloping Alaska and the way to do 1t,
and you are wrong"
I'm not talking about essential
right and wrong. Miss O'Neill is ideal
izing Macdonald. don't suppose
you've told her, for instance, that he
running a dance hall"
"No, I haven't told her any such
thing, because 1t isn't true" she re-
piled scornfully. "He owned an opera
house and brought In a company of
players. dare say they danced.
That's very different, as you'd know If
you didn't have astigmatism Of the
mind"
mot 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?"
"What's the use Of talking nonsense,
Gordon. You know you can't prove
that" his friend told him sharply.
II think I can-if 1t is necessary"
Diane looked across at him with an
impudent little tilt of the chin. II
don't think like you as well as
used to-"
"Sorry. because I'd like you just as
well, Diane, II you would stop trying
to manage your cousin into marriage
that will spoil her life," he answered
gravely. 1.-THE happiness Of Miss
O'Neill Is Of very great importance to
me-"
'Do you mean-7" Wide-eyed, she
looked her question straight at him.
That's just what I 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 It.
THAT'S. different, Gordon. 1t ex-
plains-and in a way excuses-your
coming here and trying to bully me-"
She stopped her work to flash a ques-
ton at him. "Don't you think that
maybe it's only a fancy Of yoursf I
remember You used"
He shook his head. "No 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 I loser" he asked |
quickly.