The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-04-25
Is not another mile of travel in her un

nau brought blankets from the SLED
and he persuaded her to lie down for
a few minutes.
"You'll call me soon if I should
Sleep" she said drowsily, and her eyes
were off her lips.
When Macdonald came to order the
start half an hour later, she was still
asleep. "Give her another thirty min
utes." he said gruffly.
Youth is resilient. Sheba awoke
rested and ready for work.
While Gordon was untangling the
dogs she was left alone for minute
with the mine-owner.
The hungry look in his eyes touched
her. Impulsively she held out her
hand.
You're going to be fair, aren't you,
Mr.. Macdonald? Because you-don'r
like him-you WON'T"
He looked straight into the dark
appealing eyes. 'I'm going to be fair
to Robert Milton" he told her harsh
ly. "rm going to see his murdercrs
naHSeu II 1t COSTS HE every uOlluf 1
have in the world"
"None of us objects to justice" she
told him proudly. Gordon has moth
ing to fear if only the truth is told"
"Then why come to me?" he de-
manded.
She hesitated; then with a wistful
little smile, spoke what was in her
heart. ''I'm afraid you won't do JUS
tice to yourself. You're good-and
brave-and strong. But you're very
wi!lful and set. I don't want to lose
my friend. I want to know that he is
all I have believed nina great man
who stands Tor the things that are fine
and clean and just"
'"Then it is for my sake and not for
his that you want rue to drop the case
against Elliott" he asked ironically.
''For yours and for his, too. You
can't hurt him. Nobody can really be
hurt from Outside--ilot unless he is a
traitor to himself And Gordon Elliot
isn't that He couldn't do such a
thing as this with which you charge
him. It is not in his nature. He can
explain everything"
II don't doubt that He and his
friend Holt are great little explainers"
In spite of his bitterness Sheba felt
a change in him. She seemed to
have glimpse Of his turbid soul en-
gagged in battle. He turned away with
out shaking hands, but it struck her
that he was not implacable.
While they were at luncheon half a
dozen packmules laden with supplies
for a telephone construction line out
fit had passed. Their small, sharp-shod
hoofs had punched sink-holcs in the
trail at every step. Instead of a
smooth bottom the dogs found a
slushy bog cut to pieces.
AT the end of an hour of wallowing
Macdonald called halt.
'There is cutoff just below here.
It will save us nearly two miles, but
Wen have to break trail. Swing to the
right just below the big willow" he
told Elliot. "Pll join you presently
and relieve you on the job. But first
Miss O'Neill and are going for lit
tie side trip"
All three of them looked at him in
sharp surprise. Gordon opened his
lips to answer and closed them again
without speaking. Sheba had flushed
Il warning to him.
Il hope this trip isn't very far of
the TRAIL" she said quietly. "Tm just
wee bit tired
ITS not far" the mine-owner said
CURLY.
He was busy unpacking his sled
Presently he found the dog moccasins
for which he had been looking, re-
packed his sled, and fitted the shoes
to the bleeding feet Of the team lead
or. Elliot, suspicious and uncertain
what to do, watched him at work, but
1T Il signal from Shcba turned re-
| iuctantly away and drove down to the
cutoff.
Macdonald turned his dogs out of the
trail and followed little ridge for
| perhaps quarter Of a mile. Sheha
ti,!t!@ed behind him. She was full of
wonder at what he meant to do, but
she asked no questions. Some wise in
stinct was telling her to do exactly as
he said.
From the sled he took n shovel and
gave it to the young woman. ''Dig just
This side of the big rock-close to the
root of the tree" he told her.
|
Sheba dug, and at the second stroke
of the spade struck something hard.
lie stopped and pulled out sack.
"Opcn it," he said. "Trip it with
| this knife"
She ran the knife along the coarse
weave of the cloth. Fifteen or twenty
smaller sacks lay exposed. Sheba
| looked up at Macdonald, startled
| question in her eyes.
lie nodded. "You guessed it. This
is part of the gold for which Robert
Milton was murdered"
"Rut-how did it get hcrc?'
II buried it there yesterday. Come"
He led her around the rock. Back
Of 1t lay something OYER which was
spread long bit OF canvas. The hear
of Sheba was beating wildly.
! The Scotsman locked ut her FREE
! rOck-bound face. .'Irficrl,::i,.
canvas is the body of III" -
who murdered NIiiteIi.