The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-01-09
CHAPTER xvtii.
A New Way Of leaving q House.

N''s w W Nl'' '''atf sf "aR "'fh
hold amy rcpugnnnce toward this big,
elemental man. The thing he had done
might be wrong, but the very open.
ness and ~frankness of his relation to
Metectse redeemed II from shame. He
was neither q profiignte nor q squaw-
man.
This was DANES point Of view, and
IN time II became to q certain extent
that Of Sheba. One takes on the color
of ones environment, and the girl from
Drogheda knew In her heart that Me-
teetse and Colmac were no longer the
real barriers that stood between her
and the Alaskan. She had been dis.
i%llusloned. 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
contrnsted him with another man.
Macdonald did not need to be told
that he had lost ground. but with the
dogged determination that had carried
him to success he refused to accept
the verdict. She was a woman. there
fore to be won. The habit Of victory
was so strong In him that he could see
nc alternative.
The motor-car picnic to the Willow
Creek camp was n case In point. Sheba
did not want to so. but she vent. The
picnic was n success. Macdonald was
nm outdoor man rather than n pnrlor
one. He took charge Of the luncheon,
ut the fire, and cooked the coffee with
out the least waste OF effort. In his
shirt sleeves, the neck open at the
thront. he looked the embodiment Of
masculine vigor. Diane could not
help mentioning It to her cousin.
isn't he n splendid human animal?"
Sheba nodded. Hes wonderful"
III | were n little Irish colleen and
ne had done me the honor to care for
me, I'd have fallen fathoms deep In
love with him."
The Irish colleen's eyes grew refec-
tive. "Not IL you had seen Peter first,
Oi. There's nothing reasonable about
a girl, I do believe. She loves-Or else
she just doesn't"
Diane fired u question mt her point.
blank. "Have you met your Peter7 Is
that why you hang backf"
The color famed into Sheba's face,
''Of course not. You do say the most
outrageous things. Di."
They had driven to Willow Creek
over the river road. They returned
by way OF the hills. Macdonald drew
up In front OF a cabin to all the radi,
ator.
He stood listening beside the car
, The water bucket In his hand. Some
thing unusual vas going on inside the
housc. There anne the sound OF
thud. Of n Groan, and then the crash
OF breaking glass. The whole window
frame seemed 10 leap from the sid,
of the house. The head and shoulders
of II man projected through the broker
git So.
The man swept himself free Of IN,
debris and started to run. Instant,
he pulled up In his stride. ms amazed
10 see those In the car us they were Il
see him.
"Gordon =" cried Diane.
Out Of the house poured a rush o.
men. They too pulled up abruptly n
sight Of Macdonald and his guests.
A sardonic mIrth cleaned In tn
eyes Of the Scotsman. "DO you al
ways come out of n house through th'
wall. Mr.. Elliott" he asked.
"Only when I'm In a hurry" Cor
don pulled out a handkerchief ant
dabbed ut some glass-cuts on his race.
don't let us detain YOU" said tn
Alaskan satirlcally. wei excuse you
since you must go"
I'm not In such a hurry now. II
fact, II you're going to kusiak, i thin
III ask you for q lift." returned IN
aeld agent coolly. .
"And your friends.in.a-hurry -
they want a lift toof"
Big Bill Macy came swaying foi
ward, both hands to his bleeding heat
"He's a spy. curse him. And he trie
to kill me-"
did hei" commented hacdonai
evenly. "What were you doing to him !
HE can't sneak around our cinii
under a false name" growled one
the miners. "we'll beat his head on
"Tve had notions like that myseI
sometimes" assented the big Scot
man. "But I think we had all bette
leave Mr.. Elliot to the law. He ha
Cncls Sam back Of him In his spyinI
and hone OF US are big enough to buc
the government" Crlsply MACEDONIA
spoke to Gordon. turning upon hi
cold. hostile eyes. Get In II your
going TO-"
Elliot met him eye TO eye. "r'
changed my mind. I'm going to walk
"rhst's up to you"
Gordon shook hands with Diane ar
sheba. went into the house for u
coat. and walked to the stable. j
brought out his horse and turned
loose, then he took the road hiinse
Tor Kuslak.
A couple OF miles out the car pass
him trudging downward. AZ I'M
flashed down the road he waved
cheerful and nonchalant greeting.
Sheba had been full OF gayety OIL
life. but her mood was changed. a