The Dolores star., 1918-07-05

ct SHAKING hands, but II struck Aar
dat he was not Applicable.
While they were at luncheon half
dO1en packmules laden with supplies
for q telephone construction line out
boots had punched sink-holes In the
trail at every step. Instead Of .
smooth bottom the dogs found .
slushy bog cut to pieces.
At the end Of an hour OF wallowing
Macdonald called a halt.
'There Is a cutoff Just below here.
It will save US nearly two miles, but
wen have to break trail. Swing TO the
right Just below the big Willow" he
told Elliot. "rn Join you presently
and relieve you on the job. But first
Miss O'Neill and are going for q lit
tie side trip"
All three Of them looked at him in
sharp surprise. Gordon opened his
lips to answer and closed them again
without speaking. Sheba had flashed
O warning to him.
II hope this trip isn't very far of
the trail" she said quietly. 'Tm just
Q wee bit tired"
TITS not far" the mine-owner said
CURLY.
He was busy unpacking his sled
Presently he found the dog moccasins
for which he had been looking. re-
packed his sled. and fitted the shoes
to the bleeding feet Of the team lead
er. Elliot, suspicious and uncertain
what to do, watched him at work. but
at O signal from Sheba turned re-
luctnntly away and drove down to the
cutoff
Macdonald turned his dogs out Of the
trail and followed . little ridge for
perhaps q quarter Of a mile. Sheba
trudged behind him. She was full Of
wonder at what he meant to do, hut
she asked no questions. Some wise in
stinct was telling her to do exactly as
he said.
From the sled he took q shovel and
gave 1t to the young woman. .Dig Just
this side of the big rock-close to the
root Of the tree. he told her.
Sheba dug. and at the second stroke
Of the spade struck something hard.
He stopped and pulled out a sack
"Open It,. he said. "Trip It with
this knife"
She ran the knife along the coarse
weave Of the cloth. Fifteen or twenty
smaller sacks lay exposed. Sheba
looked up at Macdonald. \ startled
question in her eyes.
He nodded. you guessed II. This
IN part Of the gold for which Robert
Milton was murdered
| "But-how did It get heref'
| Il buried It there yesterday. Come.
| He led her around the rock. Back
Of It lay something over which wal
spread long bit Of canvas. The heart
Of Sheba was beating wildly.
The Scotsman looked at her from Q
rock-boHad face. Underneath this
canvas n the body Of one Of the men
who murdered Milton. He died mort
mfserahay than the man he shot. Hall
the gold stolen from the bank In IN
that Gunnysack you have Just dug up
II youH tell me who has the Other
half, IN tell you who helped him rot
the banA."
This man-Who II her asked She
ba. almsst In q whisper. She was trem'
bling wtfA excitement and nervous
ness.
Macdsuald drew back the cloth and
showed De rough, hard face Of work
inRman.
Ills name was Trelawney. kicked
him out Of our camps because he wa
. troublemaker."
He was one Of the men that robbed
you laterf' she exclaimed.
Yes. AID now he has tried to rot
me again and has paid for it with his
life"
Her mind aashed back over the past
Then his partner In this last crime
must have been the same man-what'a
his namerthat was with him last
time.
''Northrup." He nodded slowly. n
hate to believe Il, but It IL probably
true. And he. too. IL lying somewhere
in this park covered with snow-H our
guess 10 right"
And Gordon-you admit he didn't
do tt7'
Again he nodded. sulkily. mo. BE
didn't do It."
Joy lifted in her voice. $50 you've
OAou4MS INC hcES " ICll I'll, 1 uu
glad, my friend, that you were 50 good
And It is like you to do 1t. You have
always been the good friend to me-"
The Scotsman smiled. a little visit
fully. you take a mean advantage Of
q man. You nurse him when he's Ill
and are kind to him when he IL we'll
and try to love him, though he Is twice
your age and more. Then, when his
enemy il in his power, he finds he
can't strike him down without striking
you too. Take your young man, Sheba
O'Neill, and marry him. and for Gods
sake, get him out Of Alaska before !
come to grips with him again. I'm
not q patient man, and he's tried me
sair. They say I'm q good Halter, and ]
always thought 1t true. But what's
the use Of hating q man, when your
soft arms are round him fog an