Gilpin observer., 1918-06-13
the way home she was strangely silent


The days grew short The last river
boat before the freeze-up had long
since gone. A month earlier the same
steamer had taken down In mail sack
the preliminary report Of Elliot to his
department chief. One Of the passen-
gers on that trip had been Selfridge.
sent out to counterfeit the influence
Of the evidence against the claimants
submitted by the field agent. An in
formation had been fled against Cor
don for highway robbery and attempted
murder. Wally was to see that the
damning facts against him were
brought to the attention Of officials in
high places where the charges would
do most good. The details Of the story
were to be held In reserve for publicity
in case the muckrake magazines should
try to make capital Of the report Of
Elliot.
Kuslak found much time for gossip
during the long nights. It knew that
Macdonald had gone on the bond Of
Elliot in spite Of the scornful protest
Of the younger man. The case against
the field agent was pending. Pursuit
Of the miners who had robbed the big
mine-owner had long ago been dropped.
Somewhere in the North the outlaws
lay hidden, swallowed up by the great
white waste of snow.
The general opinion was that Mac
was playing politics about the trial of
his rival. He would not let the case
romo IN n i,,rx until %ho <sr,o 49,.
conviction would have most effect In
the States, the gossips predicted. They
did not know that he was waiting for
the return Of Wally Selfridge. The
whispers touched closely the personal
affairs Of Macdonald. The report of
his engagement to Sheba O'Neill had
been denied, but it was noticed that
he was a constant guest at the home
Of the Pagets. Young Elliot called
there too. Almost any day one or other
Of the two men could be seen with
Sheba on the street. Those who want
ed to take sporting chance on the
issue knew that odds were offered sub
rosa at the Pay Streak saloon of three
to one on Mac.
Sheba rebelled impotently at the
situation. The mine-owner would not
take mo" for an answer. He wooed
her with steady, dominant persist
ence that shook even her strong
will. There was something resistless
in the way he took her for granted.
Gordon Elliot had not mentioned love
to her, though there were times when
her heart fluttered for fear he would.
She did not want any more complica-
tons. She wanted to be let alone. So
when an invitation came from her
little friends the Husteds, signed by all
three Of the children, asking her to
come and visit them at the camp back
of Katma, the Irish girl jumped at the
chance to escape for time from the
decision being forced upon her.
Sheba pledged her cousin to secrecy
until after she had gone, so that Miss
O'Neill was able to slip away on the
stage unnoticed either by Macdonald
or Elliot. The only other passenger
was an elderly woman going up to
the Katma camp to take a place as
cook.
Later on the same day Wally Sell
fridge, coming in over the ice, reached
Kusiak with important news for his
chief. He brought with him an order
from Winton. commissioner Of the gen.
eral land office. suspending Elliot pend
ing an investigation of the charges
against him.
Oddly enough, 1t was to Genevieve
Mallory that Macdonald went for con-
ISOLATION when he learned that Sheba
had left town. He had always found
1t very pleasant to dHop in, for chat
with her, and she saw to 1t that he
met the same friendly welcome now
that rival had annexed his scalp to
her slender waist. For Mrs. Mallory
did not concede defeat. II the Irish
girl could be eliminated. she believed
she would yet win.
His hostess looked up ut him with a
knocking little smile.
"Rumor says that she has run away,
my lord. Is It true7"
Eyes. Slipped away on the stage
this morning"
That's good sign. She was afraid
to stay"
1t was a part Of the fiction between
them that Mrs. Mallory was to give
him the benefit of her advice in his
wooing Of her rival. She seemed to
take 1t for granted that he would at
last marry Sheba after wearing away
the rigid Puritanism Of her resent.
ment.
Macdonald had never liked her SO
wei MS now. Her point Of view was
so sane. 80 reasonable. 1t asked for
no impossible virtues In q man. There
was something restful In her genial.
derisive understanding Of him. She
had a silent divination Of his moods
and ministered indolently to them.
"Do you think so7 Ought I to fol.
low her7" he asked.
She showed a row Of perfect teeth
In a low ripple Of amusement. The sit.