The Adair County news., 1918-03-27


10 ont and talk to Mr.. saltwater
Hese," she threatened, blushing.
old Gid folded his hands meekly.
TIL be good-honest i will. Let's see.
z got to make safe and sane converse
don. have /? HIM! Wonder when that
EaEy, iong-legged, gOod-for-nothing
horsethief and holdup that calls him.
se1f Gordon Elliot will get back to
camp"
Sheba looked into his twinkling eyes
szspieiOusly as she Handed him his
Safee. For a moment she bit her lip
80 keep back a smile, then said with
mock severity:
~Now, 1 am going to leave you to
LES. Olson"
When sunset came it found Sheba
IN The trail. saltwater Pete had Of
-Exed TO go with her, but she had been
srsEieved of his well-meant kindness by
seEss demand of Holt.
@21o, you don't, Pete. You amt
:A-gpIn' off gallivantin' with no young
lady. You're a-goin' to stay here and
,dE my game leg for me. What do you
eezkon Miss Sheba wants with fat,
&sp-sided lummox like you along VIE
aeT3"
Pete grew purple with cal'': --.
n1eu1 He had not intended anything
,-JI0re than civility and he wanted this
understood.
'Hmp, Amt you got no sense
s-Ezn, Gid? If Miss Sheba's bent on
goin' 70 meet Elliot, allowed some one
3ugbr TO go along and keep the dark
t51ez her. Course there amt nothin'
going 30 harm her, unless she goes and
gets lost"
Sheba's smile cooled the heat of the
stage driver. (Which she isn't going
10 10. Good of you to offer to go with
ne Don't mind Mr.. Holt Everybody
Knows he doesn't mean half of what
ne says. I'd be glad to have you come
Nitb me, but it isn't necessary at all.
So I'll not trouble you"
Darkness fell quickly, but Sheba still
EeId 60 the trail. There was no sign
s 81 Elliot, but she felt sure he would
come soon. Meanwhile she followed
steadily the tracks he had made ear
.jer in the day.
She ste. pod at last. It was getting
much cOldcr She was miles from the
8 Gamu- Reluctantly she decided to re-
r1UTu. Then, out of the darkness, he
sEarze abruptly upon her, the man
whom she had come out to meet.
FINDER the magic of the Northern
st.-s they found themselves again in
Zach others arms for that brief mo-
-zneur of joyful surprise. Then, as it
had os.a in the morning, Sheba drew
5ersell shyly away.
"They are waiting supper for u.s."
she fo!l him irrelevantly.
He lid not shout out his happiness
and tel her to let them wait. For
rEfGrdqJ.. too, felt awed at this wonder
IL ~ anture of love that had befal-
. iaE <huu. 1t was enough for him that
@fzaY were moving side by side. alone
liz the deep SHOWS and the biting cold,
@hat svlves of emotion crashed through
lis 81. Ses when his swinging hand
3 1gESh, hers.
The were acutely conscious Of each
5tiler Excitement burned in the eyes
sEI.zzt Curned to swift, reluctant
-lgegtir IS. She was a woman, and he
WAS D lover. Neither of them dared
qu3oe accept the fact yet, but it filled
1the background of all their thoughts
with delight.
SheBs did not want to talk of this
-nssE, amazing thing that had come into
her Ii. II was too sacred subject
70 discuss just yet even with him. So
she BEGAN to tell him odd fancies from
childhood that fingered in her Celtic
Hexrt- tales of the "little folk that
UeTe La1f memories and half imagin-
Engs. TIRED to life by some old asso-
s5zuon Of sky and stars. She laughed
softly at herself as she told them, but
.SordGu did not laugh at her.
Everything she did was for him d.
-7vinely done. Even when his eyes were
Du The dark trail ahead he saw only
Ehe dusky loneliness of curved cheek,
lsho face luminous with a radiance
SsJuIe women are never privileged to
know, the rhythm of head and body
and slender legs that was part of her
individual heaven-sent charm.
Tine rest finished supper before Cor
ion and Sheba reached camp, but Mrs
Olson mad hot meal waiting for them
al fixed up the tent for the women
Eolks-stove, sleeping bags, plenty OF
SEOod. Touch match to the fire an6
an be snug as a bug in a rug" ex
planned saltwater to Gordon.
Elliot and Sheba were to start early
for Kusiak and later the rescue party
would arrive to take care of Holt and
Mrs. Olson.
thine to turn in," Holt advised
~You better light that stove, Elliot
The young man was still in the ten
arranging the sleeping bags when She
5a entered. He tried to walk out with
ont touching her, intending to cal
hack his goodnight. But he could no
do 1t. There was something flame.
about her tonight that went to hi
head Her tender, tremulous littl