The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-05-04
the way home she was strangely silent

The days grew short. The last river
boat before the freeze-up had long
since gone. A month earlier the same
steamer had taken down in mail sack
the preliminary report of Elliot to his
department chief. One of the passen-
gers on that trip had been Selfridge.
sent out to counterfeit 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 gone on the bond Of
Elliot in spite Of the scornful protest
of the younger man. The case against
the field agent was pending. Pursuit
of the miners who had robbed the big
mine-owner had long ago 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. He would not let the case
/ come to a jury until the time when q
conviction would have most effect in
the States, the gosslps predicted. They
did not 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'Neill had
been denied, but 1t was noticed that
he was a constant guest at the home
of the Pagets. Young Elliot called
there too. Almost any day one or other
of the two men could be seen with
Sheba on the street. Those who want
ed to take sporting chance on the
issue knew that odds were offered sub
rosa at the Pay Streak saloon Of three
to one on Mac.
Sheba rebelled impotently at the
situation. The mine-owner would not
take "No" for an answer. He wooed
her with steady, dominant persist
ence that shook even her strong
will. There was something resistless
in the way he took her for granted
Gordon Elliot had not mentioned love
to her. though there were times wheI
her heart fluttered for fear he would
She did not want any more compiled
lions. She wanted to be let alone. 81
when an invitation came from heI
little friends the Husteds, signed by al
three of the children, asking her Il
come and visit them at the camp bach
Of Katma, the Irish girl jumped at 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'Neill was able to slip away on the
stage unnoticed either by Macdonald
or Elliot. The only other passenger
was an elderly woman going up tt
the Katma camp to take place al
cook. M
Later on the same day Wally Sci
fridge, coming in over the ice, reached
Kusiak with important news for hi!
chief. He brought with him an ordel
from Winton, commissioner Of the gen
eral land office, suspending Elliot pend
ing an investigation Of the charges
against him.
Oddly enough, 1t was to Geneviev,
Mallory that Macdonald went for con
ISOLATION when he learned that Sheb;
had left town. He had always fount
it very pleasant to drop in for cha
with her, and she saw to it that h,
met the same friendly welcome nov
that rival had annexed his scalp Il
her slender waist. For Mrs. Mallor,
did not concede defeat. If the Irisl
girl could be eliminated, she believes
she would yet win.
His hostess looked up at him with
hooking little smile.
"Rumor says that she has run away
my lord. Is it true?"
eyes. Slipped away on the stag
this morning."
"That's good sign. She was afrai
to stay"
It was a part Of the fiction betwee
them that Mrs. Mallory was to Civ
him the benefit Of her advice in hi
wooing Of her rival. She seemed t
take it for granted that he would q
last marry Sheba after wearing ava
: the rigid Puritanism Of her resent
ment.
Macdonald had never liked her S
! well as now. Her point of view wa
so sane, so reasonable. 1t asked fo
no impossible virtues in man. Their
was something restful In her genia
derisive understanding Of him. Sh
had silent divination of his mood
Z and ministered indolently to them.
do you think SO? Ought / to TO
low herr" he asked.
She showed row Of perfect teet
in low ripple Of amusement. The 81
uation at least was piquant, eve
| though it was at her expense.
No. Give the girl time. Catch hi
impulse on the rebound. She'll /
i bored TO death Mt KatTna md she wi