Part 43 (1/1)

His voice choked, and as Aldous gripped the big hand harder in his own he laughed

”It would, Mac,” he said ”I've been watching you while we made the plans

These cabins and the gold have been here for more than forty years without discovery, Donald--and they won't be discovered again so long as Joe DeBar and John Aldous and Donald MacDonald have a word to say about it We'll take out no claims, Mac The valley isn't ours It's Jane's valley and yours!”

Joanne, co that they stood as they did, with hands clasped Aldous told her And then old Donald confessed to them as in his mind, and what he had kept fro to leave it again He was going to stay with Jane He was going to bring her from the cavern and bury her near the cabin, and he pointed out the spot, covered ild hyacinths and asters, where she used to sit on the edge of the streaold And they could return each year and dig for gold, and he would dig for gold while they were away, and they could have it all All that he wanted was enough to eat, and Jane, and the little valley And Joanne turned fro with tears, and in John's throat was a great lump, and he looked away from MacDonald to the mountains

So it ca, when they went into the south, they stopped on the last knoll that shut out the little valley froer valley, and looked back And Donald MacDonald stood alone in front of the cabin waving theood-bye

THE END