The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-02-14

CIaC was gen1al ana O1SafInlnS. IL INlS
news hit him hard he gave no sign
of it. And that it was an unexpected
blow there could be no doubt.
"Glad you've come, Mr.. Elliot. We
ask nothing but fair play. The men
who own the Macdonald group Of
claims have nothing to conceal. I'll
answer that question. l meant to say
two years ago last spring."
His voice was easy and his gaze un-
wavering as he made the correction,
yet everybody in the room except Sheba
knew he was deliberately lying to
cover the slip. For the admission that
he had inspected the Kamatlah field
just before his dummies had filed upon
it would at least tend to aggravate sus-
piciOn that the entries were not bona
fide.
It was rather an awkward moment.
Sheba unconsciously relieved the stu
alton.
"But what about the big moose, Mr..
Macdonald? What did it do then?"
The Alaskan went back to his story.
He was talking for Sheba alone, for
the young girl, with eager, fascinated
eyes which flashed with sympathy as
they devoured selected glimpses of his
wild, turbulent career. She saw him
with other eyes than Elliot's. The gov
eminent official admired him tremen.
dOusly. Macdonald was an empire
builder. He blazed trails for others
to follow in safety. But Gordon could
guess how callously his path was
strewn with brutality, with the effects
of an ethical color-blindness largely
| selfish. though even he did not know
that the mans primitive jungle code
of wolf eat wolf had played havoc with
Sheba's young life many years before
Diane, satisfied that Macdonald had
scored, called upon Sheba.
II want you to sing for us. dear, II
you WILL
Sheba accompanied herself. The
voice of the girl had no unusual range
but it was singularly sweet and full OF
the poignant feeling that expresses
the haunting pathOs of her race.
It's well know We, Sheve Cross,
Ye weary, stony hill.
An I'm tired, och I'm tired to be
looking on We still.
For here live the near side
| an he Is on the far,
An all your heights and hollows are
| between us. so they are.
! Och anee! .
Gordon, as he listened, felt tn,
strange hunger Of that homesick or!
steal through his blood. He saw hi!
own emotions reflected in the face O
the Scotch Canadian, who was watch
ing with tense interest the slim,
young figure at the piano, the giI
whose eyes were soft and dewy will
the mysticism of her people, were still
luminous with the poetry Of the chill,
in spite of the years that heralded he
woman.
Elliot intercepted the triumphan
sweep of DANES glance from Macdon
aid to her husband. In flash it Ii
up for him the words he had heard OF
the hotel porch. Diane, an inveterat
matchmaker, intended her cousin t
marry Colby Macdonald. No doubt sh
thought she was doing fine thing TO
the girl. He was a millionaire, tn
biggest figure in the Northwest. Hi
iron will ran the town and distric
as though the people were chattels Q
his. Back of him were some of tn
biggest financial interests in the Unite
States.
But the gorge Of Elliot rose. TIL
man, after all, was lawbreaker,
menace to civilization. He was SUI
vivor, by reason Of his strength. frol
the primitive wolf pack. The yer
look of his hard, gray eyes was dom
nant and masterful. He would viii
no matter how. It came to Gordon
rebel heart that if Macdonald wante
this lovely Irish girl-and the youn
;. man never doubted that the Scotsma
would want her-he would reach OF
i, and gather in Sheba just as if sh
were coal mine or placer prospec
All this surged through the mind {
the young man while the singer wa
on the first line of the second stanz
But II t was only Sheve Cross
{ To climb from foot to crown,
4 I'd soon be up an over that,
I'd soon be runnin down.
Then sure the great ould sea itself
Is there beyont the bar,
An all the windy wathers are
, Between us, so they are.
:. Och anee!
The rich, soft, young voice with i
Irish brogue died away. The little a