Cleveland County herald., 1918-04-25
CHAPTER xviii.
A Me.a Way Of Leaving 3 House.
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WeekS passed. It was impossible for her to wait upon him in his illness and hold any repugnance toward this big, elemental man. The thing he had done might be wrong, but the very open- ness and frankness of his relation to Meteetse redeemed it from shame. He was neither a prof1igate nor squaw- man.
 This was Diane's point of view, and an time 1t became to a certain extent that of Sheba. 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 1lusioned, 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 1t. More and more her thoughts eontrasted him with another man.
 Macdonald did not need to be told chat he had lost ground, but with the dogged determination that had carried him to success he refused to accept
  fore to be won. The habit of victory was so strong in him that he could see Ao alternative.
 The motor-car picnic to the Willow Creek camp was a case in point. Sheba did not want to go, but she went The picnic was success. Macdonald was an outdoor man rather than a parlor one. He took charge of the luncheon lit the fire, and cooked the coffee with out the least waste of effort. In his shirt sleeves, the neck open at the throat, he looked the embodiment Of masculine vigor. Diane could not help mentioning 1t to her cousin.
 "Isn't he a splendid human animal ?" Sheba nodded. He's wonderful"
 If I were a little Irish colleen and he had done me the honor to care for love with him."
 The Irish colleen's eyes grew reflec- tive. Not if 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 question at her point blank. Have you met your Peter? Is that why you hang back?"
 The color famed into Sheba's face. "Of course not. You do say 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 q cabin to fill 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, of groan, and then tbe crash of breaking glass. The whole window frame seemed to leap from the side of the house. The head and shoulders of man projected through the broken glass.
 The man swept himself free of the debris and started to run. Instantly he pulled up in his stride, as amazed to see those in the car as they were to see him.
 "Gordon !" cried Diane.
 Out of the house poured rush of men. They too pulled up abruptly at sight of Macdonald and his guests.
 A sardonic mirth gleamed in the eyes of the Scotsman. "Do you al- ways come out of house through the wall, Mir. Elliott" he asked.
 "Only when Pm in hurry" Cor don pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at some glass-cuts on his face.
 1o+ Alaskan satirically. "Well excuse you, since you must go."
 "I'm not in such a hurry now. In fact, if you're going to Kusiak, l think I'll ask you for a lift" returned the field agent coolly.
 And your friends-in-a-hurry - do they want a lift too?"
 Big Bill Macy came swaying for ward both hands to his bleeding head. 'He's a spy, curse him. And he tried to kill me-
 Did hef" commented Macdonald evenly. "What were you doing to him?" "He can't sneak around our claim under false name," growled one of the miners. "We'll beat his head off" I've had notions like that myself sometimes" assented the big Scots man. But think we had all better leave MT. 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 if you're going to-"
 Elliot met him eye to eye. "I'ye 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 and turned 1t loose, then he took the road himself for Kusiak
 A couple of miles out the car passed him trudging downward. As they flashed down the road he waved a cheerful and nonchaiant greeting.
 Sheba had been full of gayety and % h,s% | ' zJ