The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1918-02-20


81 hear it from everybody. You have
built towns and railroads and devel-
oped mines and carried the twentieth
| century into new OutpOsts. You have
given work to thousands. But you
go so fast I can't keep step with you.
I am one of the little folks for whom
laws were made"
'Then I'll make a new code for you"
he said, smiling. "Just do as l say and
everything will come out right"
Family her smile met his. "My
grandmother might have agreed to
that. But we live in a new world for
women. They have to make their own
decisions. I suppose that is part Of
/ the penalty we pay for freedom"
Diane came into the room and Mac
donald. turned to her.
81 have Just been telling Sheba that
am going to marry her-that there
| is no escape for her. She had better
get used to the idea that I intend to
make her happy"
The older cousin glanced at Sheba
and laughed with a touch of embar-
rassment. whether she wants to be
happy or not, o Cave Man?"
'Tm going to make her want to-"
Sheba fed, but from the door she
flung back her challenge 81 don't
think So"
Macdonald kept his word to Sheba.
He used his influence to get Elliot re-
| leased, and with a touch of cynicism
quite characteristic went on the bond
of his rival. An information was filed
against the field agent of the land de-
! partment for highway robbery and at
tempted murder, but Gordon went
about his business just as if he were
| not under cloud.
None the less, he walked the streets
q marked man. Women and children
looked at him curiOusly and whis-
pered as he passed. The sullen, hos
tile eyes of miners measured him ST.
lently.
In the states the fight between the
coal claimants and their foes was
growing more bitter. The muckrakers
were busy, and the sentiment outside
had settled so definitely against grant
ing the patents that the national adj
ministration might at any time jettisOn
Macdonald and his hackers as a sop
to public opinion.
1t was not hard for Gordon to guess
how unpopular he was, but he did not
let this interfere with his activities. He
! moved to and fro among the mining
camps with absolute disregard of the
growing hatred against him. Paget
came to him at last with a warning.
whats that 1 hear about you being
almost killed up on BOnanza?" Peter
wanted to know.
'Down in the None Such mine, you
mean? 1t did seem to be raining
hammers as I went down the shaft, -
admitted his friend.
"Were the hammers dropped on pur-
pose?"
Gordon looked at him with a grim
smile. your guess is just as good as
mine, Peter. What do you think?"
Peter answered seriously. II think
it isn't safe for you to take the chances
you do, Gordon. l find q wrong i'm
preston about you prevalent among
the men. They are blaming you for
stirring up all this trouble on the out.
side, and they are worried for fear the
their jobs. 1 tell you that they are in
u dangerous mood"
'Sorry, but l can't help that"
''YOu can stay around town and not
| go out alone nights"
81 dare say can, but I'm not going
to-
81 think you had better use a little
sense, Gordon. 1 dare say 1 am exag.
gerating the danger. But when you
go around with that jaunty devil-may.
care way of yours, the men think you
are looking for trouble-and you're
likely to get it."
"Am II"
81 know what I'm talking about
Nine out of ten of the men think you
tried to murder Macdonald after you
had robbed him and that your nerve
weakened on the job. This seems tc
some Of the most lawleSS to give them
moral right to put you out of the
way. Anyhow, it is kind of justifica
ton, according to their point of view
I'm not defending it, of course. Tn
telling you so that you can appreciate
your danger"
"You have done your duty, then
Peter"
'But you don't intend to take my adj
vice?"
"Tll tell you what / told you last
time when you warned me. I'm goine
through with the job I've been hired
to 90, just as you would stick it cui
In my place. 1 don't think I'm in much
danger. Men in general are law-abid
ing. They growl, but they don't go as
far as murder"
Peter gave him up.
The next issue of the Kusiak Sun
. contained bitter editorial attack upon
, Elliot. The occasion for it was q
press dispatch from Washington to the
effect that the pressure of public opin
: ion had become so strong that Win
- Al To- r