| Show r u TUN ff E OF THE plaine f athor ormy LADY OF the bouth by copyright A C mcclurg 7 24 G SYNOPSIS jack keith a virginian now a ba border plainsman to Is looking tor for roaming war parties of 0 savages ile iia sees seen ft a wagon team at full gallop a latov pure pursued ue d b by y men on ponies when keith ye h reaches t the 0 wagon tho the raid ore tr have massacred two men and ana tie de parted lie ire searches the victims finding papers apers and a locket with a woman portrait rr t keith Is in arrested rented ar nt at carson city ty charged with the murder h his a accuser be inn ing a ruthan named imlack alach dart curt A companion in his cell named neb tells him that he know knew the keith tn in virginia neb says ays one ona of it the murdered men was john sibley the other oen gen walte waite formerly e r n confederate officer the plainsman a and n IS aceb neb escape anti and later the fugitives fugitive come upon it a cabin and find its lt occupant acu thanks ant to be a young girl whom 1 keith h ghinns lie saw at carson city the girl explains that sh she e I 1 la m in search of a brother who had des deserted er t e d tr rom 0 m the army and that a mr M r dawley induced her to come coma to the e cabin ab I 1 n while ho he sought her brother hawley appears and keith in hiding hiding lecog elzea him as an black dart bart there thera TB a ter rino battle lit in me darkened room in which keith Is victor are il appropriated anti and the gm girl who says that her name la Is hope hop joins in the escape kel keith t h explains hill hl situation and the fugitives fugitive ma make or vort fort lai lamed nod where the girl Is left with the hotel landlady miss alope tellei that nhe ahe la 1 the daughter of beneral walte waite KII keith th e and nd neb drift into sheridan where keith meets an old friend dr I heath koth ineeta the 0 brother of 0 joao walk wait in er ileeta tho t a assumed masume nama ol of fred I 1 red wll wit longhty and becomes convinced that black uart dart has some plot I 1 involving pvn I 1 the h two clope learns that get ger walte who aft was thought murdered Is in at sheridan A and root there where she la is mistaken for or Chrls christie tio maclaire aclaire Ma NI clairo the carson city singer ginger keith meets the real christie maclaire Macl maci alre and finds that black dart has haa convinced her that there la is a mystery in her life which he to Is going to turn to her advantage the plainsman tells hope walte waite ot of her resemblance to christie maclaire Macl maci alre th they docimo decleo tivit that fred may ho hold 7 t ahn 1 key to the situation keith finds willou aliby shot dead CHAPTER continued was mas that all do ol 01 ganral ho he seem ter know what ter says say ho he dono done set dar lookin off ober do prairie like ilka h he awas was clar ile he sho did look like dat black bobble hedi hit bit him mighty hard don den ho he says saya slow like turula his bis hoss boss round bartlett Dart lett yo arn am up a good blutt bluff but by bawd im eoln ter call yo yo dont geair get a cent ob dat money less lesa yo put up tip do proof ill moot meet yo ya abar yo 0 o bay any but of I 1 can git bit hoi bol ob 06 some pit pers dats data ill take dat grin off yo to law face do odder one laughed an do de ol 01 gineal started to fo ter ride away don den he bo pull up hes boss an look back yo sorter borter herd wid dat kind ob db cattle bartlett Dart lett he say sharp like maybe yo know a gambler roun yere called II awley do de black bebble bebber eben lose hes hea grin ido do yo mean dlack black dart bart hawley dats the man where Is he hea dealin dealan De alln faro to mike kenna tn in topeka a week ago friend ob yours data none nona ob yo damned business buBl snorted do de ol 01 V gloral gl gt nral givin his bla boss do spur bho ho 0 adassa jick he bo nobber cobber knowel bo be was ter dat same came clawley awley II an dat black jost jest laughed as he rode off when was nil all this neb bebr bout do da time yo all went up on do de hill I 1 I 1 done come right yere and waited keith walked across the room selected a cigar and camo came back his bis mind busy with the problem clawley bad in oo 00 somo me manner then got into comma communication n leation with walte waite and was threatening blia but walte waite eil evidently dently knew the man under another name his given name and the gambar had bad sent him off on a falso trall trail the lost papers apparently contained the solution to all this mystery iny tery waite believed hawley possessed them but did not suspect that bartlett and haw ley were the same person what would ho he most naturally do seek clawley in topeka probably seize the first opportunity of 0 gettin 9 there belth turned impatiently to the clerk any train running cast well they generally start one out every day with a glance toward the clock long bout this time maybe its sone gone and maybe it it was waa already nearly dark outside its as the two men hastened toward towa rd the depot they arrived there barely la in time to see seb the red lights on the last car disappear no inquiries made ot those lounging about brought results they had been interested in a lot of drunken graders loaded on tha flat cats cars by force and bent out under guard euard and not one could tell whether any man answering waites description was in the single passenger coach convinced however that the general would waste no time in prosecuting tits his search keith believed bolt eved him already 1 I on oil his bla way east and after dismissing nob with instructions to watch out closely tor for hawley bo blade his own way back to the hotel it seemed strange enough how cora com i plemely he be was waa blocked each time luat just na as he be thought the whole baffling my tery terr was about to bo be made clear ilaw ley was playing la in rare luck all the candit running easily to ta his hie hand band thus it least gaining time and strengthening his position thero could no DO be any barlit that the gambler pos assed soma knowledge which made mada him aim a formidable adversary from waites stai statement it waa tho the lose losa ot of the papers T bah loft left him helpless bel pless to openly resist lh tho claim being made najm nhim on betta ot of the laus phyllis phy lis ills ilia only hope therefore ther eforo lay in recovering these but with time limited he be had been sent back on a wild goose chase while keith alone knew with any degree of where those documents really were fl awley certainly had bad them in his possession the day before for ho he had taken them to tiles Macl Af aclaire alre to thus convince her as to the truth of his bis statements and hawley was still in sheridan however it was not likely the man would risk carrying documents of such value and documents connecting him so BO closely with that murder on an the santa fe trail about upon his bis person at best bert life was cheap in that community and black dart must possess enemies in plenty yet it if not on his person where scott was only a tool a mere ignorant desperado not to be trusted to such a degree yet apparently he be was the only one working with the gambler in this deal tho the only one cognizant as to his ata plans christie keith came to a stop in tho the street at the recurrence of the womans comans name why riot not if she bad been convinced if she really believed that thesa papers proved hor her right to both property and parentage then she would guard them as a tigress does her young and clawley would know that and must realize they would be tar far safer in her hands than in his pocket she could not use them without his aid and guidance ard and yet whatever happened to him thy they would still be safely beyond reach truo true this might not have been done the gambler might not yet have felt that he had hold bold upon n the woman to trust her thus far but it was at least a possibility to be considered and acted upon still wrestling with the intricate problem keith entered tho the dining r room 0 om and hla his way as usual through the miscellaneous crowd toward the more exclusive tables at the rear A woman sat alone at one of these jese her back toward the door ilia his first thought was that it must be hope and he advanced toward her his heart throbbing she glanced up a slight light frown wrinkling her for cheal and he bowed recognizing christie maclaire Macl alre CHAPTER A chance conversation the opportunity thus so unexpectedly afforded was not one to be wasted and keith accepted it with swift determination mi the expression in the wom ans face was scarcely one of welcome yet hla his purpose was sufficiently serious to cause him to ignore this with pasy confidence in himself 1 I am indeed most fortunate to discover c you alone miss maclaire Macl alre ho he said avoiding her eyes by a swift glance over the table and evidently at a time when you are only beginning yar your meal tiny may I 1 loin join you she hesitated for an instant debat ing with herself and as quickly deciding on disagreeable tactics 1 I 1 presume this la is a public table and I 1 consequently have little choice in the matter it if you insist she replied her voice more civil than tier words still mr keith I 1 amnot am mot 11 accustomed to associating with criminals ile he etl holding his temper in check chech more than ever determined to win then possibly you may rather welcome a new divers diversion ibn I 1 can assure you our criminals out here are the most interesting portion of our population I 1 wish I 1 might have your permission standing there here before heri acri bareheaded his slightly tanned faco strong and manly his gray eyes filled with humor miss Macl alro recognized again that he be was not of the common herd and the innate coquetry of her nature obtained mastery what harm could it do for her to chat with him tor for halt bait an hour it was better than eating a lonely meal and bp be sides she might learn leara something ot of value to report to clawley lle her own eyes brightened the slight frown rown als appearing YOU are certainly sit au illustration of your theory she sald said pleasantly 1 I shall have to say yes but bul really I 1 did not suppose you would enjoy being ranked among that class lie ile drew out a chair and sat down facing her leaning slightly forward upon the intervening table nor would 1 I only I 1 recognize you do not compre comprehend hond the source of your information Is a bit polluted ilass Macl alro there are those whose good opinion I 1 do not seek and you should not form your decisions on the unsupported testimony of a por personal enemy oh indeed rather resenting the words and already regretful of her ber compliance surely I 1 have bavo an aa much reason to trust my informant as I 1 have you lie he at least has proven himself a friend 1 I 1 wish I 1 could feel as fully assure I of that as acm do ho bo returned honest ly 1 I would then havo have every temptation tn t meddle further taken away from mo me do you realize blat myan my jn terest la Is very largely upon upa your account cou count tit oh no laughing 1 I 1 bo be bileve that 1 1 havo have heard it 4 whispered it might bo be because of the other girl the other garil in complete surprise at this swift return yes sir conscious ot of having attained tho the upper hand miss hope walte waite some more of mr Ilaw leys fancies ho he retorted perplexed that so eo much should be suspected billave you seen her why of course I 1 am a woman mr keith with all the natural curiosity of my sex in this caso case I 1 had bad special reason to be interested one does not meet her counterpart every day the resemblance between you Is certainly most striking sufficiently go BO she said slowly her eyes on his face to abundantly confirm in my mind tho the truth of all that has been told me the walier waiter approached with the orders and tho the two remained irr in silence until he had bad deposited his load upon mhd table able and departed she waa wa watching tho the face opposite through lowered lashes that veiled her oyes eyes but keith was first to break the stillness 1 I wish I 1 might be told what that was to what do you refer T apparently forgetful as aa to where their conversation had bad been broken to Ilaw leys proposition no doubt her lips smiling b but u t you have come to the wrong market mr jack keith yet he ha insisted earnestly it if this Is all straight with no fraud concealed anywhere it you have the proofs in your hands why are you afraid to talk openly the very manner in which hawley works should convince you he is himself afraid to face the truth no you are wrong there are perfectly satisfactory reasons why we should tor for the present keep our plans 1 13 19 4 13 0 1 I like many people whom perhaps I 1 ought not including you mr jack keith secret there are arc details yet to be decided upon and mr Haw Ilaw leya leys present objection to publicity is only ordinary prudence she leaned toward him her fingers playing nervously with a knife mr alir keith I 1 cannot help but like you and I 1 also feel most moat kindly disposed toward mr hawley I 1 wish in this I 1 was no longo compelled led to consider you an enemy of us both there Is no reason why I 1 should except for your blind prejudice against again t this other man who Is my friend I 1 know you haven some come cause tor for he has told row me the entire story yet I 1 am sure be did no more than Us tits actual duty lie he let me realize how bow very sorry borry he was that the marshal at carson city had bad called upon him for assistance who hawley keith questioned hardly trusting his own cars yes yea indeed he be la Is a very different man from what you have been led to believe belle va I 1 know he la Is a gambler and all that but really it Is not altogether his fault faull lie he told me aw about his life and it was very sad mad ile he was driven from home when only a boy and naturally drifted into evil fall company hid 1119 one ambition la Is to break awny away and redeem himself I 1 am so anxious to help him and wish you realize his bla purpose as I 1 do and become tola his friend wont you for my sake why even in this bla affair he has not the ho sligh slightest tast mercenary merc eniry purpose he liaa has only thought of what was rightfully mine keith listened tiling to the full the comans womans earnestness the ty of hangl hanging ng her fixed conviction hawley had planted his bis seed sed deep and well in fruitful soil you make a strong and charming advocate miss maclaire Macl alre he be returned feeling the necessity of saying baying something 1 I should like to havi you equally earnest on my side aide yet it will bo be hard to convince roa me that black bart ts Is the paragon of virtue you describe d I 1 wish I 1 might believe for your sake old did he also explain how be camm cam m into possession a session of thano papers oh ob yes indeed there Is no secret A about that they were to him by an old man whom he discovered sick la in independence awl and who died in his rooms three years ago mr hawley ihas has been searching ever since for the old mans granddaughter it is remarkable how bow be was anally convinced that I 1 was the one I A photograph was it not 1 A gleam of sudden suspicion appeared in the brown eyes a slight change Int in facial acial expression that was a ti clue yes but far from being all but why should I 1 tell you this you believe nothing I 1 say 1 I believe that you believe that you are fully convinced of tho the justice of your claim perhaps it la Is just but I 1 am suspicious of anything which bart clawley has a hand in miss christie you really make we me wish to retain your friendship but I 1 cannot do so it the cost includes faith in clawley do you know that la Is not even his bis name that ho lives under nf tran an alias Is there anything strange in that out here she asked stoutly 1 ibold I told you how deeply he regretted his life that 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