The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-09-19
CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Way Of Leaving a House.

WIN "htNt
Sheba had broken her engagement to
marry Macdonald cbbed away as the
weeks passed. II was impossible for
her to wait upon him In his illness and
mold any repugnance toward this big.
elemental man. The thing he hnd done
might be wrong, but the very open.
ness and frankncss OF his relation to
Meteetse redeemed II from shame. lie
was neither q pronlgnte nor a squnw.
man.
This was DANES point Of view. and
in time II became to a certain extent
that Of Shebn. 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 II. More md more her thoughts
contrasted him with another man.
Macdonald did not need to be told
that he had lost ground. but with the
logged determination that had carried
him to success he refused to accept
the verdict. She was n 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 n case In point. Sheba
did not want to go, but she went. The
picnic was n success. Macdonald was
ar outdoor man rather than a parlor
m He took charge of the luncheon,
at the fire, and cooked the coffee with
out the least waste Of effort. In his
shirt sleeves, the neck open Mt the
throat, he looked the embodiment OF
masculine vigor. Diane could not
help mentioning 1t to her cousin.
isn't he n splendid human animall"
Sheba nodded. Hes wonderful"
'If | were n little Irish colleen and
ne 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 refec-
tive. Not II you had seen Peter first.
Di. There's nothing reasonable about
a girl, I do believe. She loves-or else
she Just doesn't"
Diane fired II question at her point.
blank. "Have you met your Peter? Is
that why you hang back7"
The color famed into Sheba's face.
"Of course not. You do shy the most
outrageous things, Di."
They had driven to Willow Creek
over the river road. They returned
by way of the hills. Macdonald drew
up In front Of a cabin to All 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 a
thud, NJ n roam, and then the crash
NJ breaking glass. The whole window
frame seemed IN leap from the side
Of the house. The head and shoulders
of n man projected through the broken
glass.
The man swept himself free of the
debris and started To run Instantly
he pulled mp In his stride. MS amazed
TO see those In the car MS they were to
see him.
'Cordon !" cried Diane.
Out Of the house poured a rush Of
men. They too pulled up abruptly at
sight Of Macdonald and his guests.
A sardonlc mlrth CLEANED In the
eyes Of the Scotsman. do you al.
ways come out Of a house through the
wall. Mr.. Elliott" he asked.
'Only when I'm In n hurry" Cor
don pulled out a handkerchief and
dabbed at SOM glass-cuts on his face.
Don't let US detaln you" said the
Alaskan satirically. "we'l excuse you,
since you must CO."
I'm not In such a hurry now. In
fact. II you're going TO Kusiak. I think
I'll ask you for a lift" returned the
deld agent coolly.
And your friends-in hurry - do
they want q lift too1"
Big Bill Macy came swaying for
ward. both hands to his bleeding head.
Hes a spy, curse him. And he tried
TO kill me-"
did her" commented Macdonald
evenly. "What were you doing to him3"
"He can't sneak around our claim
under a false name" growled one Of
the miners. "We'll beat his head or"
1--WE had notions like that myself
sometimes" nssented the big Scots
man. But I think we had nll 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
the 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. eve
changed my mind. I'm going to walk"
That's up to you"
Gordon shook hands with Diane and
sheba. went into the house for his
coat, and walked to the stable. He
brought out his horse ana turned II
loose, then he took the road himself
for Kusiak.
A couple Of miles out the car passed
SNim trudging downward. As they
Washed down the rOad he waved a
cheerful and nonchalant greeting.
sheba had been full OF gayety and
life, but her mood was changed. All