The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-05-09

All three OF them looked at him in
sharp surprise. Gordon opened his
lips to answer and closed them again
without speaking. Sheba had flashed
a warning TO him.
Il hope this trip isn't very far of
the trail."- she said quietly. 'fFm just
wee bit tired"
Its not far" the mine-owner said
CURLY.
He was busy unpacking his sled
Presently he found the dog moceasins
Tor which he had been looking, re-
packed his sled, and fitted the shoes
TO the bleeding feet OF the team lead
er Elliot, suspicious and uncertain
what to do, watched him at work. but
at a signal from Sheba turned re-
luctantly away and drove down to the
cutoff
Macdonald turned his dogs out of the
trail and followed a little ridge for
perhaps quarter of a mile Sheba
trudged behind him. She was full of
wonder at what he meant to do. but
she asked no questions. Some wise in
stinct was telling her to do exactly as
he said.
From the sled he took a shovel and
gave it to the young woman. ssDig Just
this side Of the big rock-close to the
root Of the tree he told her.
Sheba dug, and at the second stroke
Of the spade struck something hard.
He stopped and pulled out a sack.
"Open it," he said. rip 1t with
this knife
She ran the knife along the coarse
weave of the cloth. Fifteen or twenty
smaller sacks lay exposed. Sheba
looked up at Macdonald, a startled
question in her eyes.
He nodded. you guessed it. This
is part of the gold for which Robert
Milton was murdered"
"But-hOw did it get here?"
81 buried it there yesterday. Come"
He led her around the rock. Back
of it lay something over which was
spread a long bit of canvas. The heart
Of Sheba was beating wildly.
The Scotsman looked at her from a
rock-bound face. Underneath this
canvas is the body of one of the men
who murdered Milton. He died more
miserably than the man he shot. Half
the gold stolen from the bank is in
that gunnysack you have just dug up.
If you'll tell me who has the other
half. I'll tell you who helped him rob
the bank
''This man-who is hep asked She
ba, almost in whisper. She was trem-
bling with excitement and nervous
ness.
Macdonald drew back the cloth and
showed the rough. hard face of a work
ingman.
His name was Trelawney. kicked
him OUT of our camps because he was
q troublemaker,
''He was one of the men that robbed
you later!" she exclaimed.
eyes. And now he has tried to rob
me again and has paid for it with his
life"
Her mind flashed back over the past.
''Then his partner in this last crime
must have been the same man-what's
his name?-that was with him last
time"
"Northrup." He nodded slowly. ST
hate to believe it, but it is probably
in this park covered with snow-if our
guess is right
"And GordOn-you admit he didn't
do ft?"
Again he nodded, sulkfly. mo. He
didn't do it"
Joy lifted in her voice. $50 you've
brought me here to tell me. Oh, 1 am
glad, my friend, that you were so good.
And it is like you to do it. You have
always been the good friend to me-"
The Scotsman smiled, a little visit
fully. You take a mean advantage Of
a man. You nurse him when he's ILL
and are kind to him when he is we'll
and try to love him, though he IS twice
your age and more. Then, when his
enemy is in his power, he finds he
can't strike him down without striking
you too. Take your young man, Sheba
O'NeiIl, and marry him, and for Gods
sake, get him out of Alaska before 1
come to grips with him again. I'm
not a patient man, and he's tried me
sair. They say I'm a good hater, and
always thought it true. But what's
the use Of hating a man, when your
soft arms are round him for an
armorP'
The fine eyes of the girl were wells
of warm light. Her gladness was not
for herself and her lover only, but for
the friend that had been so nearly
lost and was now found. He believed
he had done it for her, but Sheba was
sure his reasons lay deeper. He was
too much of a man to hide evidence
and let his rival be falsely accused OF
murder It was not in him to do a
cheap thing like that. When it came
to the pinch, he was too decent to stab
In the back. But she was willing to
take him on his own ground.
''I'H always be thanking you for your
goodness to me-" she told him simply.
He brushed that aside at once.
There's one thing more, lass. TIL
likely not be seeing you again alone,
so I'll say it now. Don't waste any
tears on Colby Macdonald. Don't
fancy any story-book foolishness about
spelling his life. That may be true Of
halfiing boys, maybe, but a man goes
his ain gait even when he gets a bit
facer."
eyes," she agreed. And in a flash
she saw what would happen, that in
the reaction from his depression he
would turn to Geneyieve Mallory and
marry her.