The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-03-22
CHAPTER XVII.
Sheba Does Mot 1h;nk so

MS veins. Beneath the tan of the
thin, muscular cheeks warmer color
was beginning to creep. Soon he would
be about again, vigorous and forceful,
striding over obstacles to the goal he
had set himself.
Sheba had sent him a check for the
amount he had paid her and had re-
fused to see him or anybody else.
Shamed and Inundated, she had kept
to her room. The check had come back
to her by mail.
Across the face of it he had written
in his strong handwriting:
Il don't welsh on my bets. You can't
give to me what is not mine.
do not think for an instant that I
shall not marry you"
She moved to adjust window blind
and when she returned found that his
steady eyes were fixed upon her.
You're getting better fast" she
said.
eyes"
The girl had favor to ask of him
and lest her courage fail she plunged
into it,
"Mr. Macdonald, if you say the word
Mr., Elliot will be released on bail. I
am thinking you will be so good as to
say it,"
His narrowed eyes held cold gilt
ter. "WhyT
"You must know he is innocent. You
must"
Il know only what the evidence
shows" he cut in, warily on his guard.
HE may or may not have been one of
my attackers. From the first blow I
was dazed. But everything points to
it that he hired"
ooh, mol" interrupted the Irish girl,
her dark eyes shining softly. "The way
Of it is that he saved your life that
he fought for you, and that he is in
prison because Of It,"
IF that is true, why doesn't he
bring some proof Of it?"
'Proof" she cried scornfully. "Be-
tween friends"
"He's no friend Of mine The man is
a meddler. / despise him."
The scarlet flooded her cheeks.
"And am liking him very, very much"
she flung back stanchly.
Macdonald looked up at the vivid,
flushed face and found it wholly
charming. He liked her none the less
because her fine eyes were hot and
defiant in behalf of his rival.
"Very WE'LL" he smiled. 'Tll get
him out if you'll do me good turn. "
"Thank you. It's a bargain"
"Then sing to me-"
"What shall 1 sing"
'Sing Divided"
The long lashes yelled her soft eyes
while she considered. In a way he had
tricked her into singing for him a
love-song she did not want to sing.
But she made no protest. Swiftly she
turned and slid along the bench. Her
fingers touched the keys and she be-
gan.
Sheba paid her pledge in full. After
the first two stanzas were finished she
sang the last ones as well:
An what about the wather when I'd
have ould Paddy's boat.
Is 1t me that would be afeard to grip the
oars an go afioat?
Oh, could find him by the light of sun
or moon or star;
But there's caulder things than salt waves
between us, so they are.
Och anee!
Sure well I know he'll never have the
heart to come to me,
An love is wild as any wave that wan
ders on the sea,
IT'S the same If he is near me, tits the
same if he is far:
His thoughts are hard an ever hard be-
tween us, so they are.
Och anee!
Her hands dropped from the keys
and she turned slowly on the end of
the seat. The dark lashes fell to her
hot cheeks. He did not speak, but she
felt the steady insistence of his gaze.
In self-defense she looked at him.
The pallor of his face lent accent to
the fire that smoldered in his eyes.
"Im going to marry you, Sheba.
Make up your mind to that, girl" he
said harshly.
There was infinite pity in the look
she gave him. There's caulder things
than salt waves between us, so they
are" she quoted.
"Not If love you and you love me.
By the Lord, trample down every
thing that comes between u.s."
She knew the tremendous driving
power Of the man and she was afraid
in her heart that he would sweep her
from the mOorings to which she chung.
There Is something else haven't
told YOU" The embarrassed lashes
lifted bravely from the flushed cheeks
to meet steadily his look. II don't think
that I-care for you. IT'S 1 that
am shamed at my-fckleness. But !
don't--not with the full Of my heart"
His bold, possessive eyes yielded no
fraction of all they claimed. "Time
enough for that. Sheba. Truth is that
you're afraid to let yourself love me.
You're worried because you can't
measure me by the little two-byfour
+, foot-rule you brought from Ireland
with you"
| Sheba nodded her dusky little head
| in naive candor II think there will be
some truth in that, Mr., Macdonald.
You're lawless, you know"
"I'm law to myself. II that's what
you mean. 1t is my business % help