The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1918-02-27


"Don't let us detain you," said the
Alaskan satirically. "Well excuse you,
since you must 60"
"Tm not in such hurry now. In
fact, if you're going to Kusiak, I think
I'll ask you for a lift" returned the
field agent coolly.
"And your friends-in-a-hurry do
they want lift too?
Big Bill Macy came swaying for
ward, both hands to his bleeding head.
"He's a spy, curse him. And he tried
to kill me-"
"Did he?" commented Macdonald
evenly. "What were you doing to him"
"He can't sneak around our claim
under a false name," growled one of
the miners. "We1l beat his head off,"
1--WE had notions like that myself
sometimes" assented the big Scots
man. 'But think we had all better
leave Mr.. Elliot to the law. He has
Uncle Sam back Of him in his spying,
and none of US are big enough to buck
the government" Crisply Macdonald
spoke to Gordon, turning upon him
cold, hostile eyes. "Get in if you're
going to-"
Elliot met him eye to eye. 1--WE
changed my mind. I'm going to walk"
"That's up to you"
Gordon shook hands with Diane and
Sheba, went into the house for his
coat, and walked to the stable. He
brought out his horse and turned it
loose, then he took the road himself
for Kusiak.
A couple Of miles out the car passed
him trudging downward. AS they
flashed down the road he waved a
cheerful and nonchalant greeting.
Sheba had been full of gayety and
life, but her mood was changed. All
the way home she was strangely silent.
+
The days grew short. The last river
boat before the freeze-up had long
since gone. A month earlier the same
steamer had taken down in a mail sack
the preliminary report of Elliot to his
department chief. One of the passen-
gers on that trip had been Selfridge,
sent out to counterfeit the influence
Of the evidence against the claimants
submitted by the field agent. An in
formation had been filed against Cor
don for highway robbery and attempted
murder. Wally was to see that the
damning facts against him were
brought to the attention of officials in
high places where the charges would
do most good. The details of the story
were to be held in reserve for publicity
in case the muckrake magazines should
try to make capital Of the report of
Elliot.
Kusiak found much time for gossip
during the long nights. 1t knew that
Macdonald had gone on the bond of
Elliot in spite of the scornful protest
Of the younger man. The case against
the field agent was pending. Pursuit
Of the miners who had robbed the big
mine-owner had long ago been dropped.
Somewhere in the North the outlaws
lay hidden, swallowed up by the great
white waste Of snow.
The general opinion was that Mac
was playing politics about the trial Of
his rival. He would not let the case
come to jury until the time when
conviction would have most effect in
the States, the gossips predicted. They
did not know that he was waiting for
the return Of Wally Selfridge. The
whispers touched closely the personal.
affairs Of Macdonald. The report of
his engagement to Sheba O'Neill had
been denied, but it was noticed that
he was constant guest at the home
Of the Pagets. Young Elliot called
there too. Almost any day one or other
of the two men could be seen with
Sheba on the street. Those who want
ed to take a sporting chance on the
issue knew that odds were offered sub
rosa at the Pay Streak saloon of three
to one on Mac.
Sheba rebelled impotently at the
situation. The mine-owner would not
take "No" for an answer. He wOoed
her with a steady, dominant persist
ence that shook even her strong
will. There was something resistless
in the way he took her for granted.
Gordon Elliot had not mentioned love
to her, though there were times when
her heart fluttered for fear he would.
She did not want any more cOmplica-
tons. She wanted to be let alone. So
when an invitation came from her
little friends the Husteds, signed by all
three of the children, asking her to
come and visit them at the camp back
Of Katma, the Irish girl jumped at the
chance to escape for a time from the
decision being forced upon her.
Sheba pledged her cousin to secrecy
until after she had gone, so that Miss
O'Neill was able to slip away on the
stage unnoticed either by Macdonald
or Elliot. The only other passenger
was an elderly woman going up to
the Katma camp to take a place as
cook.
Later on the same day Wally Sell
fridge, coming in over the ice, reached
Kusiak with important news for his
chief. He brought with him an order