y that he wanted to marry? It would be
the wise thing to do. She would ask nothing of him that he could not
give, and she would bring to him many things that he wanted. But he was
under the spell of Sheba's innocence, of the mystery of her youth, of
the charm she had brought with her from the land of fairies and
banshees. The reasonable course made just now not enough appeal to him.
He craved the rapture of an impossible adventure into a world wonderful.

The mine-owner carried with him back to his office a sense of the futile
irony of life. A score of men would have liked to marry Mrs. Mallory.
She had all the sophisticated graces of life and much of the natural
charm of an unusually attractive personality. He had only to speak the
word to win her, and his fancy had flown in pursuit of a little Puritan
with no knowledge of the world.

In front of the Seattle & Kusiak Emporium the Scotchman stopped. A
little man who had his back to him was bargaining for a team of huskies.
The man turned, and Macdonald recognized him.

"Hello, Gid. Aren't you off your usual beat a bit?" he asked.

The little miner looked him over impudently. "Well--well! If it ain't
the Big Mogul himself--and wantin' to know if I've got permission to
travel off the reservation."

Macdonald laughed tolerantly. He had that large poise which is not
disturbed by the sand stings of life.

"I reckon you travel where you want to, Gid,--same as I do."

"Maybeso. I shouldn't wonder if you'd find out quite soon enough what
I'm doing here. You never can tell," the old man retorted with a manner
that concealed volumes.

Those who were present remembered the words and in the light of what
took place later thought them significant.

"Anyhow, it is quite a social event for Kusiak," Macdonald suggested
with a smile of irony.

[Illustration: THE SITUATION AT LEAST WAS PIQUANT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS
AT HER EXPENSE]

Without more words Holt turned back to his bargaining. The big Scotchman
went on his way, remembered that he wanted to see the cashier of the
bank which he controlled, and promptly forgot that old Gid existed.

The old man concluded his purchase and drove up to the hotel behind one
of the best dog teams in Alaska. He had paid one hundred dollars down
and was to settle the balance next day.

Gideon asked a question of the porter.

"Second floor. That's his room up there," the man answered, pointing to
a window.

"Oh, you, seven--eighteen--ninet