The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-05-02
CHAPTER x,.-con.lnued.


Presently he spoke thickly. II sup
pose you have heard that he was q
squaw man"
That's ridiculous. Don't be absurd.
Gordon"
ats the truth. I've seen the woman.
She was pointed out to me-"
"By old Gideon Holt, likely" abe
flashed. ~
zone could get evidence and show II
10 Miss O'Neill," he said aloud, to HIM
self rather than to her.
Diane put her point of view before
him with heated candor. "You couldn't.
Nobody but a cad would rake up old
scandals about the MN who hns beat
en- him fairly for a woman's love-"
"You beg the question. Has he won
eairlyr
"Of course he has. Be a good sport.
Gordon. Don't kick on the umpire's
decision. Play the game"
That's oil very well. But what
about her7 Am to sit quiet while
that seems 10 me rooted in dishonorf"
"She Is net being sacrificed. I'm
her cousin. Tn very fond Of her. And
rd trust her with Colby Macdonald"
"Play fair. Dinnc. Tell her the truth
about this Indian woman and let your
cousin decide for herself. You can't
DO less, can your r.
Mrs. Paget was distinctly annoyed.
You ought to be ashamed Of yourself.
Gordon Elliot. You take all the COS
sip Of q crack-braincd old idiot for
gospel truth Just because you want
to believe the worst about Mr.. Mac
donald. Colby Macdonald il too big
and too aggressive not to have made
hundreds Of enemies. His life has been
threatened dozens Of times. But he
pays no attention to it-goes right on
building up this country. Yet you'd
think he had q cloven hoof to hear
some people talk. I've NO patience
With them"
~Ths woman's name II Meteetse."
Gordon said in an even voice. just as
Il he were answering a question. "She
u young and good-looking for an In
dian. Her boy is four or five years old.
Colmac. they call him. and he looks
Just like Macdonald"
"People are always tracing resem-
blances. There's nothing to that. But
suppose his life was irregular-years
ago. This Isn't Boston. 1t used to be
the fringe Of civilization. Men did as
they pleased in the early days."
''This wasn't in the early days. 1t
was fve years ago, when Macdonald
was examining the Kamatlnh coal field.
I'm told he sends a check down the
river once q month for the woman"
"All the more credit to him II he
foes" Diane rose and looked storm
Lly down at her friend. you're about
~ broad as a clam, Gordon. Can't you
see that even II it's true, all that Is
done with1 1t is a part Of his past
and it's fnished-trodden underfoot.
It hasn't thing to do with Sheba."
II don't agree with you. A man
can't cut loose entirely from his past.
It II q part of him-and Macdonalds
past isn't good enough for Sheba
O'Neill."
Diane tapped her little foot impa-
uently on the floor. 'sDo You know
many men whose pasts are good
enough for their wives7 Colby Mac
donald is good enough for any woman
alive II he loves her enough"
"You don't know him."
IT know him far better than you do.
He IL the biggest man know. and now
that he IL In love with good woman
he'll rise to his chance"
"She ought to be told the truth
about Neteetse and her boy" he In
dsted doggedly.
Mrs. Paget lost her temper complete
b. "Does the government pay you
b mind other peoples business, Cor
aonr she snapped.
81 wouldn't be working for the gov
srnment then. but for Sheba O'Nelll."
.And for Gordon Elliot You'd be
boing underhand work for him too.
Don't forget that. You can't do It.
You're not that Kind Of q man. It
mt In you 10 - muckSAking in the
Dase q ~ DsA 0haAa 4 enlAg b