The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-04-25
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Sheba Had Gone Over to the Enemy.
He hated the man who had robbed him
of Sheba, but he could not escape re-
speeding him. Elliot had fought until
he had been hammered down into I'M
consciousness and he had crawled to
his feet and stood erect with the smile
Of the unconquered on his lips. Was
this the sort of man to murder in cold
blood kindly old gentleman who had
never harmed him?
The only answer Macdonald found
was that Milton had taken him and
his partner by surprise. They had
been driven to shoot the cashier to
cover up their crime. Perhaps Holt or
another had fired the actual shots, but
Elliot was none the less guilty. The
heart of the Scotsman was bitter
within him. He intended to see that
his enemies paid to the last ounce. He
would hurry them to the gallows if
money and influence could do it.
None the less, his doubts persisted.
If they had planned the bank robbery,
why did they wait so long to buy sup
plies for their escape? Why had they
not taken the river instead of the hill
trail? The story that his enemies told
hung together. 1t had the ring of
truth. The facts supported it.
One piece of evidence in their favor
Macdonald alone knew. 1t lay buried
in the deep SHOWS of the hills. He
shut his strong teeth in the firm re-
solve that it should stay there.
The weather had moderated a good
deal, but the trail was protected
forest one. The two teams now going
down had come up, so that the path
was packed fairly hard and smooth.
Holt lay propped on his own sled
against the sleeping-bags. Sheba
mushed behind Gordon. She chatted
with them both, but ignored entirely
the existence of Macdonald, who fol-
lowed with his prize-winning Siberian
dogs.
Though she tried not to let her lover
know it, Sheba was troubled at heart.
Gordon was practically the prisoner of
a man who hated him bitterly, who be-
lieved him guilty of murder, and who
would go through fire to bring punish
ment home to him. She knew the
| power Of Macdonald. With the money
back of him, he had for two years
| fought against and almost prevailed
oyer strong public opinion in the
United States. He was as masterful in
his hatred as in his love. The dominant,
fighting figure in the Northwest, he
trod his sturdy way through opposition
like Colossus.
Nor did she any longer have any
illusions about him. He could be both
ruthless and Inscriptions when it
suited his purpose. AS the day wore
toward noon, her spirits dropped. She
was tired physically, and this reacted
upon her courage.
The warmer weather was spelling
the trail. 1t became so soft and mushy
that though snOwshOes were needed
they could not be worn on account OF
the heavy snow which chung to them
every time foot was lifted. They
were nukluks, but Sheba was wet tc
the knees The spring had gone from
her step. Her shoulders began to sag
For some time Gordon's eye had
been seeking good place for day
camp. He found it in q bit of OpeI
timber above the trail, and without 9
word he swung his team from the path
"Where are you going?" demanded
Macdonald.
"Going to rest for an hour" was Ell
/ lots curt answer.
Macdonald's jaw clamped. He STROBE
forward through the snow beside the
trail. "Well see about that
The younger man faced him angrily
"Can't you see she is done, lnan? There