He would not let the case come to a jury until the time
when a conviction would have most effect in the States, the gossips
predicted. They did not know that he was waiting for the return of
Wally Selfridge.

The whispers touched closely the personal affairs of Macdonald. The
report of his engagement to Sheba O'Neill had been denied, but it was
noticed that he was a constant guest at the home of the Pagets. Young
Elliot called there too. Almost any day one or other of the two men
could be seen with Sheba on the street. Those who wanted to take a
sporting chance on the issue knew that odds were offered _sub rosa_
at the Pay Streak saloon of three to one on Mac.

As for Sheba, she rebelled impotently at the situation. The mine-owner
would not take "No" for an answer. He wooed her with a steady, dominant
persistence that shook even her strong, young will. There was something
resistless in the way he took her for granted. Gordon Elliot had not
mentioned love to her, though there were times when her heart fluttered
for fear he would. She did not want any more complications. She wanted
to be let alone. So when an invitation came from her little friends the
Husteds, signed by all three of the children, asking her to come and
visit them at the camp back of Katma, the Irish girl jumped at the
chance to escape for a time from the decision being forced upon her.

Sheba pledged her cousin to secrecy until after she had gone, so that
Miss O'Neill was able to slip away on the stage unnoticed either by
Macdonald or Elliot. The only other passenger was an elderly woman going
up to the Katma camp to take a place as cook.

Later on the same day Wally Selfridge, coming in over the ice, reached
Kusiak with important news for his chief. He brought with him an order
from Winton, Commissioner of the General Land Office, suspending Elliot
pending an investigation of the charges against him. The field agent was
to forward by mail all documents in his possession and for the time, at
least, drop the matter of the coal claims.

Oddly enough, it was to Genevieve Mallory that Macdonald went for
consolation when he learned that Sheba had left town. He had always
found it very pleasant to drop in for a chat with her, and she saw to
it that he met the same friendly welcome now that a rival had annexed
his scalp to her slender waist. For Mrs. Mallory did not concede defeat.
If the Irish girl could be eliminated, she believed she would yet win.

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