The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-03-01

nOSpltallly. j KNOW Wnen In wen
off,"
"Then I'll have to withdraw my in
vitation. Perhaps some other day"
"Tll leave at ten," promised Elliot
meekly.
He could almost hear the smile In
her voice as she answered. "Very well.
Seven sharp. I'll explain about the
curfew limit some time"
Macdonald was with Miss O'Neill in
the living room when Gordon arrived
at the Paget home.
Sheba came forward to greet the
new guest. The welcome in her eyes
was very genuine.
"You and Mr.. Macdonald know each
other, of course" she said after her
handshake.
The Scotsman nodded his lean, griz-
zled head, looking straight into the
eyes of the field agent.
Eyes, know Mr.. Elliot-now. I'm
not sure that he knows me-yet."
''I'm beginning to know you rather
we'll, Mr.. Macdonald" answered Cor
don quietly.
If the Alaskan wanted to declare
war he was ready for it. The fieE1
agent knew that Selfridge had kept re-
ports detailing what had happened at
Kamatlah. Up to date Macdonald had
offered him the velvet glove. He won
dered If the time had come when the
fist of steel was to be doubled.
did you have a successful trip, Mr..
Elliot?" asked Sheba innocently.
Paget grinned behind his hand. The
girls question was like match to
powder, and everyone in the room
| knew it but she. The engineers in.
| terests and his convictions were on the
side of Macdonald, but he recognized
that Elliot had been sent in to gather
| facts. for the government and not to
give advice to it.
did you, Gordon" echoed his host.
ess.
81 think So" he answered quietly.
| 81 hear you put up with old Gideon
Holt. Is he as cracked as he used tC
be?" asked Macdonald.
"Was he cracked when you used tC
know him on Frenchman creek" coun
tered the young man.
Macdonald shot a quick, slant looE
at him. The old man had been talk
ing. had he?
"He was cracked and broke, too,
laughed the mine owner hardly
Cracked when he came, broke wher
he left"
Eyes, that was one of the stories h,
told me-" Gordon turned to Sheba
"You should meet the old man, Mis-
O'Neill He knew your father at Daw
son and on Bonanza"
The girl was all eagerness. "Pt
like to. Does he ever come to Ku
siak?''
''Nonsense!" cut in Diane sharply
She flashed Gordon look of annoy
ance. Hes nothing but a daft oil,
idiot, my DEAR"
Thel dinner had started wrong, ant
though Paget steered the conversation
to safer ground, it did not go yer,
well.
Gordon was ashamed of himself. H
could not quite have told what wer
the impulses that had moved him t
carry the war into the camp of tn
enemy. Perhaps, more than anything
else, it had been a certain look of quie
assurance in the eyes of his rival whel
he looked at Sheba.
He rose promptly at ten.
"Must you go so soon?" Diane asked
She was smiling at him with blan
mockery.
II really must" answered Elliot.
His hostess followed him into tn
hall. She watched him get into hi
coat before saying what was on he
mind.
"What did you mean by telling Sheb
that old Holt knew her father? VIVA
is he to tell her if they meet-tha
. her father died of pneumonia brough
on by drink? Is that what you want ?
81 suppose wanted Holt to tell he
that Macdonald robbed her father an
indirectly was the cause of his death.
"Absurd!" exploded Diane. "Your
SO simple that you accept as truth TIL
gossip of every crack-brained idiot
when it suits your purpose"
He smiled, boyishly, engagingly, q
, he held out his hand. ''Don't let
quarrel, Di. 1 admit l forgot myself
, "All right. We won't. But don
; believe all the catty talk you hea
Gordon"
"I'll try to believe only the truth
+ He smiled, little ruefully. "And
+ isn't necessary for you to explain WI
the curfew law applies to me and n,
to Macdonald"
s She was on her dignity at ono
9 you're quite right. 1t isn't necessar
t But I'm going to tell you, anyhow. M
Macdonald is going away tomorrow fl
e two or three days, and he has son
4 business he wants to talk over wit
: Sheba. He had made an appointmel
t with her, and I didn't think it fair
r let your coming interfere with it"