The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-04-11

hot cheeks. He did not speak, but she
felt the steady insistence of his gaze.
In self-defense she looked at him.
The pallor of his face lent accent to
the fire that smoldered in his eyes.
SIN going to marry you, Sheba.
Make up your mind TO that, girl" he
said harshly.
There was infinite pity IN the look
she gave him. Il" There's caulder things
than salt waves between US, so they
are" she quoted.
''NOt if love you and you love me.
By the Lord, trample down every
thing that comes between u.s.
She knew the tremendous driving
| power Of the man and she was afraid
In her heart that he would sweep her
from the moorings to which she chung.
There is something else I haven't
told you" The embarrassed lashes
lifted bravely from the flushed cheeks
to meet steadily his look. ''I don't think
that I-care for you. IT'S I that
am shamed at my-fickleness. But 1
don't-not with the full of my heart"
His bold, possessive eyes yielded no
fraction of all they claimed. 'HTime
enough for that, Sheba. Truth is that
you're afraid to let yourself love me.
You're worried because you can't
measure me by the little two-by-four
foot-rule you brought from Ireland
with you"
Sheba nodded her dusky little head
In naive candor. ST think there will be
some truth in that, Mr.. Macdonald.
You're lawless, you know"
I'm law to myself If that's what
you mean. 1t is my business to help
hammer out an empire in this North
land. No need for me to brag. What
1 have done speaks for me as q guide
post to what mean to do
81 know" the girl admitted with
the impetuous generosity of her race.
81 hear 1t 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 can't keep step with you
I am one of the little folks for whom
laws were made"
''Then I'll make new code for you. '
he said, smiling. "Just do as say and
everything will come out right"
Family her smile met his. 'My
grandmother might have agreed tc
that. But we live in new world fol
women. They have to make their OWL
decisions. I suppose that is a 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 thai
I am going TO marry her-that there
; is no escape for her. She had better
get used to the idea that I intend Il
make her happy"
The older cousin glanced at Sheb;
and laughed with a touch of eInbar
rassment. Whether she wants to b.
happy or not, o Cave Man?"
''Pm going to make her want to-"
Sheba fed, but from the door sh
flung back her challenge. 81 don
think So"
Macdonald kept his word to Shebs
He used his influence to get Elliot re
!. leased, and with a touch Of cynicisn
quite Characteristic went on the bon
J of his rival. An Information was file
against the field agent of the land de
partment for highway robbery and al
!, tempted murder, but Gordon wen
about his business just as if he wer
not under a cloud.
None the less, he walked the street
a marked man. Women and childre
looked at him curiOusly and viii:
, pered as he passed. The sullen, no:
= tile eyes Of miners measured him S
lently.
;, In the states the fight between tn
coal claimants and their foes wa
growing more bitter. The muckrakeI
were busy, and the sentiment Outsid
had settled so definitely against gran
ing the patents that the national az
ministration might at any time jettiso
: Macdonald and his hackers as a so
to public opinion.
% 1t was not hard for Gordon to CUES
how unpopular he was, but he did NJ
- let this interfere with his activities. d
> moved TO and fro among the mimi
camps with absolute disregard of II
growing hatred against him. Pag'
70 came to him at last with q warnin
whats that hear about you beir
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