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.
His hostess laced her fingers behind her beautiful, tawny head, quite
well aware that the attitude set off the perfect modeling of the soft,
supple body. She looked up at him with a mocking little smile.
"Rumor says that she has run away, my lord. Is it true?"
"Yes. Slipped away on the stage this morning."
"That's a good sign. She was afraid to stay."
It was a part of the fiction between them that Mrs. Mallory was to give
him the benefit of her advice in his wooing of her rival.
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