Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-01-09
CHAPTER v.

Elliot did not see Miss O'Neill next
morning until she appeared in the din
ing room for breakfast. He timed him
self to get through so as to join her
when she left They strolled out to
the deck together.
He came abruptly to what was on
his mind. IT have an apology to make,
Miss O'Neill. If made light of your
danger yesterday, it was because l was
afraid you might break down. had
to seem unsympathetic rather than
risk that"
She smiled forgiveness. "All you
said was that I might have sprained
my wrist. 1t was true too. I might
have--and I did" Sheba showed a
white linen bandage tied tightly
around her wrist.
"Your whole weight came on it with
a wrench. No wonder it hurt"
Sheba noticed that the Hannah was
drawing up to wharf and the pas
sengers were lining up with their be-
longings. SIS this where we changer"
'Those Of us going to Kusiak trans
fer here. But there's no hurry. We
wait at this landing two hours"
Gordon helped Sheba move her bag
gage to the other boat and Joined her
on deck. They were both strangers
in the land. Their only common ac-
quaintance was Macdonald and he was
letting Mrs. Mallory absorb his atten-
ton just now. Left to their own re-
sources, the two young people natu-
rally drifted together good deal.
This suited Elliot. He found his
companion wholly delightful, not the
less because she was so different from
the girls he knew at home. She could
be frank, and even shyly audacious on
occasion, but she held little note of
reserve he felt bound to respect.
Macdonald left the boat twenty miles
below Kusiak with Mrs. Mallory and
the Selfridges. A chauffeur with
motorcar was waiting on the wharf to
run them to town, but he gave the
wheel to Macdonald and took the seat
beside the driver.
"Are you going to the hotel or direct
to your cousin's?" Gordon asked Miss
O'Neill.
ITO my cousins. fancy she's down
here to meet me. It was arranged that
I come on this boat"
Elliot caught glimpse of the only
people in Kusiak he had known before
coming in. but though he waved to
them he saw they did not recognize
him. After the usual delay about get
ting ashore he walked down the gang
way carrying the suitcase Of the Irish
girl. Sheba followed at his heels. On
the wharf he came face to face with
a slender, well-dressed young woman.
'Diane" he cried.
She stared at him. "Youi What in
heavens name are you doing here, Cor
don Elliott" she demanded, and before
he could answer had seized both hands
and turned excitedly to call stocky
man near. "Peter-Peter! Guess
who's here?"
''Hello, Pagetr' grinned Gordon, and
he shook hands with the husband Of
Diane. ...t->
Elliot turned to introduce his friend,
but she anticipated him.
"Cousin Diane," she said dryly.
"don't you know me?"
Mrs. Paget swooped down upon the
girl and smothered her in her en-
brace.
'"This is Sheba-little Sheba that I
have told you so often about, Peter"
she cried. "Glory be, I'm glad to see
you, child" And Diane kissed her
again warmly. "You two met on the
same boat, of course, coming in. l
hope you didn't let her get lonesome,
Gordon. Look after Sheba's suitcases.
Peter. You'll come to dinner tonight.
Gordon-at seven"
"I'm in the kind hands Of my coun.
trywoman," laughed Gordon. I'll GER
tainly be on hand" !...... ...
"But what in the world are you do
Ing here? You're the last man I'd
have expected to see."
"I'm in the service of the govern
ment, and I've been sent in on bust
ness"
swell, I'm going to say something
original, dear people," Mrs. Paget re-
piled. Its small world, isn't it?"
While he was dressing for dinner
later in the day, Elliot recalled early
memories Of the Pagets. He had
known Diane ever since they had been
Youngsters together at school. He
remembered her as restless, wiry
little thing, keen as q knife-bladc. Al
ways popular socially, she had sur
prised everybody by refusing the eaten
Of the town to marry young mining
engineer without penny. Gordon was
in college at the time, but during the
next long vacation he had fraternized
a good deal with the Peter Pagets. The
young married people had been very
much in love with each other. but not
too preoccupied to take the college boy
into their happiness as comrade.
Then the Arctic goldfields had claimed
Paget and his bride. That had been
more than ten years ago, and until
today Gordon had not seen them since.
While Elliot was brushing his dinner
coat before the open window Of the
room assigned to him at the hotel,
somebody came out to the porch below.
The voice of a woman flOated family
to him.
"Seen DANES Irish beauty yet,
Ned?"
"Yes," man answered.