Cheyenne record., 1918-07-04


would hurry them 70 the gallows II
money and influencs could do It
None the less. his doubts persisted.
II they had planned the bank robbery,
why did they wait 20 long to buy sup
plies for their escapef Why had they
not taken the river instead Of the hill
trailf The STORY that his enemies told
hung together. It, had the ring Of
truth. The facts supported It.
One piece Of evidence in their favor
Macdonald alone knew. It lay buried
In the deep SHOWS. Of the hills. He
shut his strong teeth In the nrm 10
solve that It should stay there.
- . . -
The weather had moderated q good
deal. but the tran was . protected
forest one. The two teams now going
down had come up. % that the path
was packed fairly hard and smooth.
Holt lay propped ON his own sled
against the sleeping-bags. Eheba
mushed behind Gordon. She chatted
with them both, but ignored entirely
the existence Of Macdonald, who fol-
lowed with his prize-winning Siberian
dogs.
Though she tried not to let her lover
know It, sheba was, tToubled at heart.
Gordon was practically the prisoner Of
Q man who hatsd him bitterly. who be-
neved him guilty Of murder. and who
would go through ffre to bring punish-
ment home to him, She knew the
power Of Macdonald. With the money
back Of him, he had for two years
fought against and almost prevailed
over q strong public opinion in the
United States. He was AZ masterful In
his hatred a. in his love. The dominant,
fighting figure In the Northwest, he
trod his zturdy way through opposition
like Colossus.
Nor did she any longer have any
illusions about him. He could be both
ruthless and unscIupulous when It
suited his purpose. Az the day wore
toward noon, her spirits dropped. She
was tired physically, and this reacted
upon her courage.
The warmer weather was spelling
the trail. It became % soft and mushy
that though sn0wshoes were needed,
they could not be worn on account Of
the heavy snow which chung to them
every time q foot was lifted. They
wore mukluks, but Sheba was wet TO
the knees. The spring had gone from
her step. Her shoulders began to sag.
For some time Gordon's eye had
been seeking a good place for q day
camp. He found 1t in q bit Of open
timber above the trail, and without Q
word he swung his team from the path.
"Where are you goingr" demanded
Macdonald.
"Going to rest for an hour" was m
lots curt answer.
Macdonald's Jaw clamped. He strobe
forward through the snow beside the
trail. Sven see about that"
The younger man faced him angrily.
"Can't you see she is done. mani There
Is not another mile Of travel in her un-
til she has rested"
The hard, gray eyes Of the Alaskan
took in the slender, weary figure lean
ing against the sled. On a soft and
mushy trail like this, where every
footstep punched a hole in the loose
snow. the dogs could not traved with
any extra weight. A few miles farther
down they would come to q main-trav-
eled road and the going would be bet
ter. But till then she must walk. Mac
donald gave way with gesture Of his
hand and turned on his heel.
At the campfire Sheba dried her
mukluks. stockings. caribou mitts and
Oh aBl tn r.
forced herself to swallow few bites
and drank eagerly some tea. Gordon
had brought blankets from the sled
and he persuaded her to lie down for
a few minutes.
vYourl call me soon II should
Sleep" she said drowsily, and her eyes
were closed almost before the words
were OF her lips.
When Macdonald came to order the
start half an hour later, she was still
asleep. "Give her another thirty min
utes." he said grufny.
Youth is resilient. Sheba awoke
rested and ready for work.
While Gordon was untangling the
dogs she was left alone for minute
with the mine-0wner.
The hungry look in his eyes touched
her. Impulsively she held out her
hand.
You're going to be fair, aren't you.
Mr.. Macdonald3 Because you-don'r
like him-you wont-r
He looked straight into the dark.
appealing eyes. I'm going to be fair
to Robert Milton" he told her harsh
ly. I'm going to see his murderers
hanged If 1t costs me every dollar !
have In the world"
'None Of us objects to Justice" she
told him proudly. "Gord0n has moth
ing to fear II only the truth IL told"
"Then why come to mer he de-
manded.
She hesitated; then with Q wistful
little smile, spoke what was in her