The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-03-28

ice for the first time last winter. The
other women felt that she was a bird
of passage, that the frozen Arctic
could be no more than whim to her.
They deferred a little to her because
she knew the great world-New York,
Vienna. London, Paris. Great names
fell from her lips casually and care
lessly. She was full of spicy little
anecdotes about German royalty and
the British aristocracy. 1t was no won
der. Gordon Elliot thought, that she
had rather stunned the little social set
Of Kusiak.
Through Northrup and Trelawney a
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
man discovered that they bore him no
grudge at all 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
point. We stand for Labor. He stands
for Capital. See? Things amt what
they used to be in Alaska. and it's be-
cause of Colby Macdonald and his
friends. They're grnbbers - that's
what they are. They want the whole
works. Understand? It's up to us
to fight. amt it7"
| 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 the big fellows are
consolidating interests. Alaska amt
a poor mans country the way 1t was.
But Mac amt to blame for that. He
has to play the game the way the
cards are dealt out"
The sky was clear again when the
Hannah drew In to the wharf at Moose
Head to unload freight, but the mud
in the unpaved streets leading to the
business section Of the little frontier
town was instep deep. Many of the
passengers hurried ashore to make the
most Of the hve-hour stop. Elliot put
on q pair Of heavy boots and started
uptown.
At the end Of the wharf he passed
| Miss O'NeIll. She wore no rubbers and
|
ming of the mud. After a momentary
ihdecislon 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 a package under his arm. Miss
O'Neill was sitting on the forward
deck. making q pretense to herself
Of reading.
He moved over to where she sat and
lifted his hat. II hope you won't
think 1t a liberty. Miss O'Neill. but
I've brought you some rubbers from a
store uptown. noticed you couldn't
get ashore withou. 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
courtesies Of this sort 50 informally.
IL think 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 a quitter. Having begun this. he
proposed to see 1t out. he caught
sight of the purser experimenting the
discharge of cargo and called to him
by name. The ohicer Joined them. q
pad of paper and a pencil in his hand.
I'm trying to persuade Miss O'Neill
that she ought to 60 ashore while
we're lying here. What was It you told
me about the waterfall back Of the
town."
"Finest thing Of its kind in Alaska.
Everyone takes 1t in. We won't get
away till night. You've plenty Of time
II you want to see It."
"Now, will you please introduce me
to Miss O'Neill formallyT'
The purser went through the usual
formula of presentation. adding that
Elliot was a government official on
his way to Kusiak. Having done his
duty by the young man, the busy su-
percargo retired.
I'm sure 1t would do you good to
walk up to the waterfall with me, Miss
O'Neill," urged Elliot.
She met little dubiously the smile
that would not stay quite extinguished
on his. s.good-looking, boyish face. Why
shouldn't she go with him, since 1t was
the American way for unchaperoned
youth to enjoy itself naturally?
"If they'll fit," the girl answered,
eying the rubbers.
Gordon dropped to his knees and
demonstrated that they would.
AS they walked along the muddy
street she gave him friendly little
nod Of thanks. "Good Of you to take
the trouble to look out for me-"
He laughed. ut was myself I was
looking out for, / am q stranger in
the country and was awfully lone
some"
.Is 1t that this is your first time