The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-03-28

"Gordon !" cried Diane.
Out of the house poured rush OF
men. They too pulled up abruptly at
sight of Macdonald and his guests.
A sardOnic mirth,, cleaned in the
eyes of the Scotsman. do you al
ways come out of house through the
wall, Mr.. Elliott" he asked.
"Only when I'm in hurry" Cor
don pulled out a handkerchief and
dabbed at some glass-cuts on his face.
"Don't let us detain you," said the
Alaskan satirically. wen excuse you,
since you must co.
sTm not in such hurry now. In
fact, if you're going to Kusiak, I think
I'll ask you for lift" returned the
field agent coolly.
"And your friends-in-a-hurry do
they want a lift too?"
Big Bill Macy came swaying for
ward, both hands to his bleeding head.
"He's 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 false name," growled one of
the miners. "Well beat his head Off"
1--WE had notions like that myself
sometimes" assented the big Scots
man. "But I 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
scat, 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 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
IF the evidence against the claimants
submitted by the field agent. An in
formation had been filed against Cor
Ion for highway robbery and attempted
murder. Wally was to see that the
1amning facts against him We're
brought to. the attention of officials in
high places where the charges would
10 most good. The details of the story
were to be held in reserve for publicity
II 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
IF the younger man. The case against
the field agent was pending. Pursuit
If the miners who hadsrobbed 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 Mao
was playing politics about the trial OF
his rival. He would not let the case
come to jury until the time when 6
conviction would have most effect in
the States, the gossips predicted. They
did not know that he was waiting fol
the return Of Wally Selfridge. Tht
whispers touched closely the persona
affairs of Macdonald. The report OF
his engagement to Sheba O'Neill hat
been denied, but it was noticed thai
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 witt
Sheba on the streets Those who want
ed to take a sporting chance on tn,
issue knew that odds were offered sui
rosa at the Pay Streak saloon of tire,
to one on Mac.
Sheba rebelled impotently at tn
situation. The mine-owner would no
take ''No" for an answer. He wooet
her with a steady, dominant persist
ence that shook even her. stron,
will. There was something resistles
in the way he took her for granted
Gordon Elliot had not mentioned low
to her, though there were times whel
her heart fiuttered for fear he would
She did not want any more compiled
lions. She wanted to he let alone. s
when an invitation came from he
little friends the Husteds, signed by al
three of the children, asking her t
come and visit them at the camp bacl
of Katma, the Irish girl jumped at tn
chance to escape for time from tn
decision being forced upon her.
Sheba pledged her cousin to secrec
until after she had gone, SO that Mis-
j O'Neill was able to slip away on tn
stage unnoticcd either by Macdonal
or Elliot. The only other passenge
was an elderly woman going up t
the Katma camp to take place a
cook.
Later on the same day Wally Sc
fridge, coming in over the ice, reache
Kusiak with important news for hi
chief. He brought with him an orde
from Winton. commissioner of the ger
eral land office. sllsDentling Elliot penl