The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-09-19
the way home she was strangely silent

boat DeiOre the frecZc-up na0 long
since gone. A month earlier the same
steamer had taken down In a mail sack
the preliminary report Of Elliot to his
department chief. One Of the pnssen.
gers on that trip had been Selfridge.
sent out to counteract the influence
Of the evidence against the claimants
submitted by the field agent. An in
formation had been filed against Cor
don for highway robbery and attempted
murder. Wally was TO see that the
damning facts against him were
brought to the attention of officials in
high places where the charges would
do most good. The details of the story
were to be held in reserve for publicity
In case the muckrake magazines should
try to make capital Of the report OF
Elliot.
Kusiak found much time for gossip
during the long nights. 1t knew that
Macdonald had zone on the bond of
Elliot in spite OF the scornful protest
Of the younger man. The ease against
the field agent was pending. Pursuit
Of the miners who had robbed the big
m%lne-owner had long ngo been dropped.
Somewhere In the North the outlaws
lay hidden. swallowed up by the great
white waste OF snow.
The general opinion was that Mac
was playing politics about the trial OF
his rival. lie would not let the case
come to n Jury until the time when n
conviction would have most effect In
the States. the gosslps predicted. They
did no know that he was waiting for
the return OF Wally Selfridge. The
whispers touched closely the personal
affairs Of Macdonald. The report OF
his engagement to Sheba O'Ncill had
been denied, but II was noticed that
he was n constant guest nt the home
of the Pagets. Young Elliot called
there too. Almost any day one or other
OF the two men could be seen with
Shebn on the street. Those who want
cd to take n sporting chance on the
issue knew that odds were offered sub
rosa Mt the Pay Streak saloon of three,
to one on Mac.
Sheba rebelled %impotently at the
situation. The mine-owner would not
take mo" for IN answer. He wooed
her with n steady, dominant persist
ence that shook even her strong
will. There was something reslstless
In the wny he took her for granted.
Gordon Elliot had not mentioned love
to her, though there were times when
her heart fluttsred for fenr he would.
She did not want any more compiled.
lions. She wanted to he let alone. So
when M Invitation came from her
little friends the Husteds, signed by all
three Of the children. asking her to
come and visit them Mt the camp back
OF Katmn, the Irish girl jumped mt the
chance to escape for n time from the
decision being forced upon her.
Sheba pledged her cousin TO secrecy
until after she had gone, so that Miss
O'Ncill was able 70 slip away on the
stage unnotlced either by Macdonald
or Elliot. The only other passenger
was an elderly woman going up 10
the Katmn camp to take n place as
cook.
Liner on the same day Wally Sell
fridge. coming IN over the ice, reached
Kuslnk with important new for his
chief. He brought with him nm order
from Wiuton. commissioner Of the gem
cral land office, suspending Elliot pend
Ing an investigation OF the charges
against him.
Oddly enough. II was to G%enevieve
Mallory that Macdonald went for con-
ISOLATION when he learned that Sheba
had left town. He had always found
II very pleasant to drop In for n chat
with her. and she saw to II that he
met the same friendly welcome now
that a rival had annexed his scalp to
her slender waist. For Mrs. Mallory
did not concede defeat. II the Irish
girl could be eliminated. she believed
she would yet win.
His hostess looked up Mt him with q
hooking little smile.
"Rumor says that she has run away,
my lord. Is II true"
"Yes. Slipped away on the stage
this morning"
THAT'S u good sign. She was afraid
to stay"
II was a part Of the fiction between
them that Mrs. Mallory was to give
him the benefit Of her advice In his
woolng Of her rival. She seemed to
take II for granted that he would ut
last marry Sheba after wearing away
the rigid Puritanism Of her resent.
ment.
Macdonald had never liked her so
well as now. Her point Of view was
so sane, 10 reasonable. II asked for
no impossible virtues In a man. There
was something restful In her genial.
derisive understanding Of him. She
had a silent divination Of his moods
and minlstered indolsntiy T. them.
ID you think sof Ought I to fol.
low herr" he asked.
She showed u row Of perfect teeth
IN a low ripple Of amusement. The sit
uation at least was pIquant. even
though II was ut her expense.
mo. Give the girl time. Catch her
Impulse on the rebound. She'll be
bored to denth nj Katma and she viii
come back doclle."
He scarlet lips. the long. unbroken
lines OF the slnuous. opulent body, the
challenge Of the smolderlng eyes. the
warmth Of her laughter. all invited him