Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-02-06


his hotel than he called up Mrs. Paget
Quite clearly she understood that he
wanted an invitation to dinner. YET
she hesitated.
my phone can't be working well,
Gordon told her gayly. "You must
have asked me to dinner, but I didn't
just hear it. Never mind. I'll be there
Seven o'clock, did you say?"
Diane laughed. "You're just as
much a boy as you were ten years
ago, Cord. All right. Come along. But
you're to leave at ten."
mo, can't hear that. My phone
has gone bad again. And If I had
heard, shouldn't think Of doing any.
thing so ridiculous as leaving at that
hour. It would be an insult to your
hospitality. I know when I'm well
off,"
"Then I'll have to withdraw my in
vitation. Perhaps some other day
"rll leave at ten," promised Elliot
meekly.
He could almost hear the smile In
her voice as she answered. every well.
Seven sharp. I'll explain about the
curfew limit some time" .u .
Macdonald was with Miss O'Neill In
the living room when Gordon arrived
at the Paget home. --.
Sheba came forward to greet the
new guest. The welcome in her eyes
was very genuine.
"You and Mr.. Macdonald know each
other, of course" she said after hel
handshake.
The Scotsman nodded his lean, griz
zled head, looking straight into the
eyes Of the field agent. -, -
eyes, I know Mr.. Elliot-now. Tn
not sure that he knows me-yet."
"Tm beginning to know you rather
well, Mr.. Macdonald" answered Cor
don quietly. ..-.
If the Alaskan wanted to declare
war he was ready for it. The field
agent knew that Selfridge had kept re
ports detailing what had happened al
Kamatlah. Up to date Macdonald had
offered him the velvet glove. BE won
dered If the time had come when the
fist Of steel was to be doubled.
did you have successful trip, Mr.
Elliott" asked Sheba innocently.
Paget grinned behind his hand. The
girls question was like match tc
powder, and everyone in the room
knew it but she. The engineers In
terests and his convictions were on the
side of Macdonald, but he recognized
that Elliot had been sent in to gather
facts for the government and not tt
give advice to it. -
'Did you, Gordon7" echoed his host.
ess.
II think so," he answered quietly.
II hear you put up with old Gideon
Holt. Is he as cracked as he used tt
be?" asked Macdonald.
"Was he cracked when you used tc
know him on Frenchman creek" cOun
tered the young man.
Macdonald shot quick, slant look
at him. The old man had been talk
ing, had he?
"He was cracked and broke, too
laughed the mine owner hardly
"Cracked when he came, broke wher
he left"
Eyes, that was one Of the stories he
told me-" Gordon turned to Sheba
'sYou should meet the old man, Miss
O'Neill. He knew your father at Daw
son and on Bonanza"
The girl was all eagerness. "rd
like to. Does he ever come to Ku
siak?"
'Nonsense cut in Diane sharply
She flashed Gordon look Of annoy
ance. "He's nothing but daft old
idiot, my dear" .
The dinner had started wrong, and
though Paget steered the conversation
to safer ground, it did not 60 very
we'll. -.
Gordon was ashamed Of himself. He
could not quite have told what were
the impulses that had moved him tt
carry the war into the camp Of the
enemy. Perhaps, more than anything
else, it had been certain look Of quiet
assurance in the eyes Of his rival whel
he looked at Sheba.
He rose promptly at ten.
"Must you 60 so soon? Diane asked
She was smiling at him with blanc
mOckery.
81 really must" answered Elliot.
His hostess followed him into tn
hall. She watched him get into hi
coat before saying what was on he
mind.
"What did you mean by telling Sheb'
that old Holt knew her father? VIVA
Is he to tell her If they meet-tha
her father died of pneumonia brough
on by drink? Is that what you want!
II suppose I wanted Holt to tell he
that Macdonald robbed her father ant
Indirectly was the cause Of his death.
"Absurd!" exploded Diane. "Your'
go simple that you accept as truth tn
gossip Of every crack-brained idiot
when 1t suits your purpose"
He smiled. boyishly. engagingly, g