Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1918-05-19
CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Way Of Leaving a House.

Sheba had broken her engagement TO
marry Macdonald ebbed away as the
weeks passed. II was impossible for
her TO wait upon him In his illness and
hold any repugnance toward this big
elemental man. The thing he had done
might be wrong but the very open
ness and frankness Of his relation to
Meteetse redeemed II from shame. He
was neither Q proflgate nor q squaw-
man.
This was DANES point Of view. and
In time II became to a certain extent
that Of Sheba. One takes on the color
Of ones environment. and the girl from
Droeheda knew in her heart that Ne
teetse and Colmac were no longer the
real barriers that stood between her
and the Alaskan. She had been dis
illusioned, saw him more clearly; and
though she still recognized the quality
Of bigness that set him apart. her spirit
did not now do such complete homage
to II. More and more her thoughts
contrasted him with another man.
Macdonald did not need to be told
that he had lost ground hut with the
dogged determination that had carried
him to success he refused to accept
the verdict. She was q woman. there
fore to be won. The habit Of victory
was so strong in him that he could see
no alternative.
The motor-car picnic TO the Willow
Creek camp was a case In point. Sheba
did not want to go. but she went. The
picnic was a success. Macdonald was
an outdoor man rather than a parlor
one He took charge Of the luncheon.
lit the FIRE. and cooked the coffee with
out the least waste OF effort. In his
shirt sleeves. the neck open at the
throat. he looked the embodiment of
masculine vigor. Diane could not
help mentioning 1t to her cousin.
Isn't he splendid human animalT r
Sheba nodded. Hes wonderful"
IF l were a little Irish colleen and
he had done me the honor 10 care foI
me. I'd have fallen fathoms deep In
love with him."
The Irish c0lleen's eyes grew refec
tive. mot II you had seen Peter first
Di. There's nothing reasonable about
a girl. l do believe. She loves-or else
she Just doesn't"
Diane fred a question at her point
blank. Have you met your Peter? L.
that why you hang backr
The color famed into Sheba's face
-Of course not. You do say the mos,
outrageous things. d."
They had driven to Willow Creel
over the river road. They returned
by way Of the hills. Macdonald drew
up In front Of q cabin to I'LL the radi
ator.
He stood listening beside the car
the water bucket In his hand. Some
thing unusual was going on inside thu
house. There came the sound Of {
tirud. Of q groan, and then the crasl
Of breaking glass. The whole window
frame seemed to leap from the sid'
Of the house. .".e head and shoricer.
Of q man projected through the broke,
glass.
The man swept himself free Of thu
debris and started to run. Instant,
he pulled up In his stride. as amazed
10 see those in the car as they were Il
see him.
Gordon 7" cried Diane.
Out Of the house poured rush o
men. They too pulled up abruptly q
eight Of Macdonald and his guests.
A sardonic mirth cleaned In th'
eyes Of the Scotsman. "Do you al
ways come out of house through tn
wall, Mr.. Elliotr' he asked.
only when I'm In a hurry" Cor
don pulled out Q handkerchief ant
dabbed at some glass-cuts on his face.
Don't let US detain you" said tn
Alaskan satiricaIly. "We1l excuse you
since you must 60"
I'm not In such . hurry now. II
fact, II you're going 10 Kusiak. thinl
I'll ask you for q lift" returned tn
neld agent coolly.
And your friends-in-a-hurry- ID
they want Q lift toor
Big Bill Macy came swaying for
ward, both hands to his bleeding head
Hes = spy. curse him. And he trie'
to kin me-"
Did heY" commented Macdonald
evenly. what were you doing to him
"He can't sneak around our clair
vnder Q false name" growled one
me miners. "WeTl beat his head on.
I've had notions like That mysel
sometimes" assented the big Scot
nan. But I think we had all bette
leave Mr.. Elliot to the law. He ha
Uneis Sam back Of him In his spying
and none Of rs are big enough to buc
u. government" Crisply Hacdonal