The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-03-28

three.
When Elliot took the down-river
boat he found Oliver Dustin was a fell
low passenger. The little man smoked
an occasional cigar with the land agent
and aired his views on politics and af-
fairs social. He left the boat at the
big bend.
Not till q week later did Elliot re-
turn up the river. He was asleep at
the time the Sarah passed the big
bend, but next morning he discovered
that Selfridge and Dustin had come
aboard during the night. In the after
noon he came upon d real surprise
when he found Meteetse and her little
boy Colmac seated upon a box on the
lower deck where freight for local
points was stored.
His guess was that they were local
passengers, but wharf after wharf
slipped behind them and the two still
remained on board. They appeared
to know nobody else on the Sarah,
though once Gordon met Dustin just as
he was hurrying away from the Indian
woman.
Meteetse transferred with the other
Kusiak passengers at the river juno
ton. The field agent was not the only
one on board who wondered where
she was going. Selfridge was con-
sumed with curiosity, and when she
and the boy got off at Kusiak, he could
restrain himself no longer. Gordon
saw Wally talking with her. Meteetse
showed him an envelope which evil
| IDENTIFY had an address written upon it,
for the little man pointed out to her
| the direction in which she must go.
Since leaving Kusiak nearly two
weeks before, no word had reached
Gordon of Sheba. AS soon as he had
| finished dinner at the hotel, he walked
out to the Paget house and sent in
his card.
Sheba came into the hall to meet
him from the living room where she
had been sitting with the man she ex-
pected to marry next week. She gave
little murmur of pleasure at sight of
him and held out both hands.
81 was afraid you weren't going to
get back in time. I'm so glad" she
told him warmly.
He managed to achieve a smile
''When is the great day?"
Next Thursday. Of course we're
as busy as can be, but Diane says
A ring at the door interrupted her
Sheba stepped forward and let in al
Indian woman with q little boy cling
ing to her hand.
'You Miss O'Neill?" she asked.
"Yes"
From the folds of her shawl she
! II rJo OF
address, then opened and read wha
was written. She looked up, puzzled
first at the comeIy, flat-fOoted Indian
woman and afterward at the handsome
little brown-faced papoose. She turned
TO Gordon.
''This letter says I am to ask thi
; woman who is the father of her boy
What does it mean?"
, Gordon knew instantly what
meant, though he could not guess VIII
had dealt the blow The impulse t
spare her pain was. stronger in hin
than the desire that she should know
the truth.
"Send her away" he urged. don
ask any questions. She has been sen
to hurt you"
4 A fawnlike fear flashed into the stal
tied eyes. ITO hurt me?"
Ct am afraid So"
! ''But-why? I have done nObod
e any HARM" She seemed to hold eve
a her breathing in suspense.
perhaps some of Macdonald's en-,
S miles," he suggested.
And at that there came a star-f1as
e into the soft eyes and a lifted tilt {
). the chin cut fine as a cameo. Sh
I turned proudly to the Indian woman
e 'What is it that you have TO tell n
J. about this boys father?'
It Meteetse began to speak. At tt
o first mention of Macdonald's nan
Sheba's eyes dilated. Her smile, hC
8. sweet, glad pleasure at Gordon's arr
r val, were already gone like the fan
/ of a blown candle. Clearly her hea
It was a-fiutter. in fear OF she knew n,
what When the Indian woman to-
e how she had first crossed the path
e Macdonald, the color famed into Il
cheeks of the Irish girl, but as Il
= story progressed, the blood ebbt
I even from her lips.
With q swift movement of her q
/. gers she flashed on the hall light. H
d. gaze searched the brown, shiny face
ID the little chap. She read there an g
s. fdavit of the truth of his mother
n tale. It was impossible TO see hi
and not recognize Colby Macdonald 7
" incarnated.
er 'What is your name?" asked Shel
t suddenly.
he The youngster hung back shy
I'd among the folds of the Indian woman
re skirt. "Colmac," he said at last soft
"Come !" Sheba flung open the do
n of the living room and ushered the
d in.
r. Macdonald, pacing restlessly up al
ne down the room during her absent
pulled up in his stride. He stood frow
'n ing at the native woman, then his ey
n passed to Elliot and fastened up
ne him. The face of the Scotsman W
y grim as that of q hanging judge.
81 Gordon started to explain, tn
~ stopped with a shrug. What was [
=. use? The man would never belle
him in the world.
- It'll remember this" the AIask
"a promised his rival. There was a CT
,is glitter in his eyes, a sudden flare
the devil that was blood-chiIling.