The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-07-25

Ice for the first time last winter. The
other women felt that she was n blrd
Of passage, that the frozen Arctic
could be no more than a within to her.
They deferred n little to her because
she knew the great world-New York,
Vienna, London, Paris. Great
fell from her lips casually and care
lessly. She was full Of spicy little
anecdotes about German royalty and
the British %aristocracy. II was no won.
der. Gordon Elliot thought, that she
had rather stunned the little social set
of Kusiak.
Through Northrup and Trelawney n
new slant on Macdonald was given to
Gordon. He had fallen into casual
talk with them after dinner on the
fore deck. To his surprise the young
grudge at arl for his interference the
night before.
But we amt through with Colby
Macdonald yet" Trelawney explained.
Mind. ! don't say we're going TO get
him. Nothing like that. Here's the
poln,. We stand for Labor. He stands
for Capital. See? Things amt what
they used to he in Alaska. and It's be.
cause Of Colby Macdonald aud his
friends. They're Grabbcrs - that's
what they IRE. They want the whole
works. Understand? It's up to Us
Ia fight, amt III"
Later Elliot put this viewpoint be.
fore Strong.
There's something in It," the miner
agreed. "WaGes have gone down. and
It's partly because tie big fellows nrc
consolidating interests. Alaska aln''
n poor mans country the way It was.
But Mac ain't TO blame for that. He
has To play the game the way the
cards IRE dealt out"
The sky was clear again when the
Hannah drew In to the wharf ut Moose
Head to unload freight, but the mud
In the unpaved streets leading 10 the
business section OF the little frontier
town was instcp deep. Many Of the
passengers hurried ashore to make the
most of the five.hour stop. Elliot put
on n pair Of heavy boots and started
uptown.
At the end OF the wharf he passed
Miss O'Nelll. She wore no rubbers and
she had colne to n halt at the begin.
ming Of the mud. After n momcntnry
Indcclslon she returned slowly to the
boat.
The young man walked up into the
town, but ten minutes later he crossed
the |gangplank OF the Hannah again
with n package under his arm. Miss
O'Neill was sitting on the forward
deck, making a prctense to herself
Of reading.
lie moved over to where she sat and
lifted his hat. 81 hope you won't
think 1t n liberty, Miss O'Neill, but
I've brought you some rubbers from n
store uptown. I noticed you couldn't
get ashore without them"
The girl was visibly embarrassed.
She was not at all certain OF the right
thing to do. Where she had been
brought up young men did not offer
courtesles of this sort so informally.
IL think I won't need them, thank
you. I've decided not to leave the
boat" she answered shyly.
Elliot had never been accused Of be-
Ing n gutter. Having begun this, he
proposed 10 see II out. He caught
sight Of the purser experimenting the
discharge OF cargo and called 10 him
by name. The officer Joined them, n
pad OF paper and a pencil IN his hand.
"Im trying to persuade Miss O'Neill
that she ought to go ashore while
we're lying here. What vas 1t you told
me about the waterfall back OF the
town."
FINEST thing OF It's kind In Alaska.
Everyone takes II In. We won't get
away til night. You've plenty Of time
If you want to see It."
"Now, will you please introduce mt
to Miss O'NcIll formallyI"
The purser went through the usual
formula of presentation, adding that
Elliot was u government official on
his way to Kuslak. Having done his
duty by the young man, the busy SUI
percargo retired.
I'm sure It would do you good to
walk up to the waterfall with me, Miss
O'Neill," urged Elliot.
She met n little obviously the smile
that would not stay quite eStinguished
on his good-looklng, boyish face. Why
shouldn't she go with him, since II was
the American way for unchaperoned
youth TO enjoy itself naturally
"If they'll ft," the girl answered,
cylng the rubbers.
Gordon dropped TO his knees and
demonstrated that they would.
As they walked along the muddy
street she gave him Il friendly little
nod Of thanks. "Good of you 10 take
the trouble to look out for me-"
He laughed. at was myself I was
looking out for. ! am a stranger In
the country and vas awfully lone
some"
as II that this is your first time
in, toof" she asked shyly.
you're going to KusIak, aren't
your DO you know anybody theref'
replied Elliot.
"My cousin lives there. but I haven't
seen her since ! was ten. She's an
American. Eleven years ago she Wis.
Itad M Ia IraIanHu