The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-05-23
CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Way Of Leaving a House.

A New Way Of Leaving House.
The surge of disgust with which
Sheba had broken hcr engagement to
marry Macdonald ebbed away as the
weeks passed. It was impossible for
her to wait upon him in his illness and
hold any repugnance toward this big.
elemental man. The thing he had done
might be wrong, but the very open
ness and frankness of his relation to
Meteetse redeemed 1t from shame. He
was neither a profligate nor sQuaw-
man.
This was Diane's point of view. and
in time It became to certain extent
that Of Sheba. One takes on the color
Of ones environment. and the girl from
Drogheda knew In her heart that Me-
teetse and Colmac were no longer the
real barriers that stood between her
and the Alaskan. She had been dis
illusioned. saw him more clearly; and
though she still recognized the quality
of bigness that set him apart. her spirit
did not now do such complete homage
to 1t. More and more her thoughts
contrasted him with another man.
Macdonald did not need to be told
that he had lost ground, but with the
dogged determination that had carried
him to success lie refused to accept
the verdict. She was a woman, there
fore to be won. The habit of victory
was so strong In him that he could see
no alternative.
The motor-car picnic to the Willow
Creek camp was a case In point. Sheba
NJ tr h,rt cho
picnic was q success. Macdonald was
an outdoor man rather than a parlor
one. He took charge of the luncheon,
lit the IRE. and cooked the coffee with
out the least waste of effort. In his
shirt sleeves, the neck open ut the
throat, he looked the embodiment Of
masculine vigor. Diane could not
help mentioning 1t to her cousin.
"Isn't he a splendid human animal r
Sheba nodded. "He's wonderful"
"If I wereN little Irish colleen and
he had done me the honor to care for
me, I'd have fallen fathoms deep in
love with him."
The Irish colleen's eyes grew reflec-
tive. mot II you had seen Peter first,
Di. There's nothing reasonable about
a girl. do believe. She loves-or else
she Just doesn't"
Diane fired a question at her point
blank. Have you met your Peter3 Is
that why you hang backf'
The color famed into Sheba's face.
"Of course not. You do say the most
outrageous things. d."
They had driven to Willow Creek
over the river road. They returned
by way Of the hills. Macdonald drew
up in front OF q cabin to fill the radi-
ator.
He stood listening beside the car.
the water bucket In his hand. Some
thing unusual was going on inside the
house. There came the sound Of
tfrId. Of a groan. and then the crnsh
OF breaking glass. The whole window
frame seemed to lenp from the side
Of the house. .:~.e head and shoulders
Of a man projected through the broken
glass.
The man swept himself free OF the
debris and started to run. Instantly
he pulled up in his stride. as amazed
to see those in the car as they were to
zee him.
"Gordon I" cried Diane.
Out Of the house poured a rush Of
men. They too pulled up abruptly at
alght 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.. Elliot7" he asked.
"Only when I'm In a hurry" Cor
don pulled out a handkerchief and
dnbbed at some glass-cuts on his face.
Don't let us detain you," said the
Alaskan satirically. "We'n excuse you.
since you must CO."
I'm not In such a hurry now. In
fact, II you're going to Kusiak, think
TIL ask you for a lift." returned the
neld agent cooliy.
"And your friends-in-a-hurry- - do
they want lift too1"
Big Bill Macy came swaying for
ward. both hands to his bleeding head.
''He's a spy. curse him. And he tried
to kill me-"
ibid hef" commented Macdonald
evenly. "What were you doing to him ?
-He can't sneak around our claim
vnder a false name," growled one of
the miners. "We'n beat his head on
1--WE had notions like that myself
sometimes" assented the big Scots
man. But 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
tee government" Crisply Macdonald
spoke to Gordon. turning upon him
cold, hostile eyes. "Get In II you're
going to-"
Elliot met him eye to eye. "I've
changed my mind. I'm going to walk.
THAT'S up to you"
Gordon shook hands with Diane and
0heba. went into the house for his
coat. and walked to the stable. He
hrQuRht ont his horse and turned II