The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-06
CHAPTER XII.
cenevieve Mallory Takes a Hand.


Inside of an hour the news of the
engagement of Macdonald was all over
Kusiak. 1t was through telephone
receiver that the gossip was buzzed
to Mrs. Mallory by friend who owed
her little stab. The voice of Gene
We've Mallory registered faint amuse-
ment, but as soon as she had hung up,
her face fell into haggard lines. She
had staked year of her waning youth
on winning the big mining man of
Kusiak, together with all the money
that she had been able to scrape up
for the campaign outfit. Moreover, she
liked him.
Mrs. Mallory sat down in the hall
beside the telephone, her fingers laced
about one crossed knee. She knew
that If Sheba O'Neill had not come on
the scene, Macdonald would have
asked her to marry him. He had been
moving slowly toward her for months.
They understood each other and were
at ease together. Between them was
strong physical affinity.
Then Diane Paget had brought in this
slim, young cousin Of hers and Colby
Macdonald had been fascinated by the
mystery of her innocent youth. Mrs.
Mallory was like steel beneath the soft
and indolent surface. Swiftly she
mapped her plan of attack. The Alas
kan could not be moved, but 1t might
be possible to startle the girl into
breaking the engagement.
But before she made any move Mrs.
Mallory intended to be sure of her
facts. 1t was like her to 20 to head
quarters for information. She got
Macdonald on the wire.
I've just heard something nice
about you. Do tell me it's true" she
said, her voice warm with sympathy.
Macdonald laughed with almost boy.
ish embarrassment. sits true, I
reckon"
I'm so glad. She's a lovely girl.
The sweetest thing that ever lived.
I'm sure you'll be happy. I always did
think you would make perfect hus-
band. OF course, I'm simply green
with envy Of her."
Her little ripple Of laughter was gay
and care-free. The man at the other
end of the line never had liked her bet
ter. She was game little sport, he
told himself approvingly. 1t appealed
to him immensely that she could take
such facer and come up smiling.
There were no signs of worry wrin-
kles on her face when the maid adj
mitted caller half an hour later.
Oliver Dustin was the name on the
card. He was remittance man, a
tame little parlor pet whose vocation
was to fetch and carry for pretty wom-
en-, and by some odd trick Of fate he
had sifted into the Northland. Mrs.
Mallory had tolerated him rather
scornfully. but today she smiled upon
him.
Dustin helped himself to cigarette
and made himself comfortable.
She set herself to win him. He was
immensely fattered at her awakened
interest. When she called him by his
first name, he wagged all over like
pleased puppy.
1t came to him after time that she
was considering him for q confidential
mission. He assured her eagerly that
there was no trouble too great for him
to take If he could be of any service
to her. Their heads were close In
whispered talk for few minutes, at
the end Of which Dustin left the room
with his chin in the air. He was
knight Grant In the employ of the
most attractive woman north Of fifty
three.
When Elliot took the down-river
boat he found Oliver Dustin was a fell
ltw passenger. The little n,pn smoked