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Show . IkeithI H j OF THE II BORDER HI A TALE OF THE PLAINS HHt By RANDALL PARR1SH Hfll Aaftorol "MY LADY OF THE SOUTH." U "WHIN WILDERNESS WAS KING." etc. Uf DhMlrmtloM by DUARBORN MELVILL. I HlH, (Oopjrlflil, A. C. McClurf Gs , 1V10 ) HI CHAPTER XXI. KCfi The Marshal of Sheridan. Hl'-t; i It was railed a depot merely through Bl cotirtciy, consisting of a layer of eln- H'j- '' r ders, scattered promiscuously ho an to M I , partially conceal the underljlng mud, l! and a dlnnantled box car, In which Hujre i presided ticket agent and telegrapher. m M A hundred ynrds below nag tho big B if 1 sh,ck where the railroad officials H IjJ j lodged Across the tracks blazed In B lttngly the "First Chance" saloon. Hii' ' All Intervening space was t'rowded Blf' with men, surging aimlessly about In Bl'li the glare of a locomotive head HghL Bri .. and greeting the alighting passengers B, f with free and easy badinage Stranger H ' or acquaintance mude no different', H i the welcome to Sheridan was noisily H ( extended, while lough play and hoaise B I" laughter characterized the mass B A Hope paused on the step, even as BB-' Dr. Kalrbaln grasped her hand, dinned HB f: 1 by the medley of dlsroidant sounds, BBS J and confused by the oclferous Jam BBB , of humanity. A band tame tootiDg BBB 'I down the street In a hack, a fellow, BBB 4 with a voice like a fog born, how line BBB , jj on the front seat The fellows at tb BBB , side of the tar surged aside to get a BBB j glimpse of this new attraction, and BBB i'jt Kalrbaln, taking quick advantage of BB Is the opportunity thus presented, swung BBB u hit charge to the tinders below. Ilend- BflB .1 Ing before her, and butting his great BBW jj shoulders Into the surging crowd, be BflB. I succeeded In pushing a passage BBV' j' through, thus finally bilnglng her PBBB I forth to the edge of the Mleet BBV "Hey, there," he said sbortl) grab BflBj (- blng a shlrt-sleeted ludhldual bj the BBBJ i arm. "Where's Charlie" f" The fellow looked at til in wonder- lugly. J "Charlie" Oh, jou iiieiiu the 'Kid I' BBBj! J Well, he ain't here ter-nlght; had a BBBl I weddln', an' Is totln' the lnldal BBBi I touplo 'round. ' BBt' ! Kalrbaln svroro disci eetl) undei bis Bflflf .J breath, and cast an uutertHln glance BBVf t at the slender figure shi inking beside BBE d ( him. The streets of Sheridan were BBBJ "k not out pleasant at night BBBJ : "Only hack In town Is suiuewheie BBJj i else, Miss," he explained brlell) I BBBJ reckon you and 1 will have to hoof It " V If He felt the gilp of h-r flngfis on hh BBBf- BBBj "The bojs aie a little milk) but it's BBBJ: Just their waj don't mean aii)thlng BBS ou hang ou to me, an' Veep the veil BBBj 1 down we'll be there In the shake of a BBBff dog's BBBB J He helped her oer the uiudd) BBft ( cinsslug, and ns tbe teaihed a stretch BBB of boaid walk, began cxpatlntlug on The various places llnlug the wa) BBS "That's the '"Mammoth' over there , ( dunce hall back of It biggest thing BBBs west of the . Missouri tin ee men killed BBjB there last wtek whut for'' Oh thi' BfBBt got too fresh that s the Casino' and BBjB the one be.wiud Is 'I'wn Joe's 1'lace' BBB ou his leg oltjilrnrYe been heie BBH j' fight oer a l'iT "Ain't thei'e an BeBB) stores? sure, the.'ie farther liaik BBBM )utt see the saloons gut In first -that's BBBA 'Sbeeuy Mikes' xniiibllng Joint ou're BxBBs looking at like to go over and see B 'em pla.V All right. Just though,! I'd BfBBa ask you- It s earl) an) how, ami ihlngs BjBBs wouldn't be goln eiv lively yet Say, BxBBs ( there, j on id head what are ) on tr). iBBB J Ing to PPBM I The fellow had tun lied out of the BBjBj i crowd In mill a manner as lo brush PPBB J partial!) aside the girl's veil, per- PPH t mlttlug the glare of 'Sheeny Mike's" BPH lights to fall full upon her leieuled BKBjBj fare It was acioinpllshed o openly BftBBs lut lo appear planned, but before he PPBB : could reel awav again, Kalrbaln stnuk PPBB out and the man went down With PPBB f an oath he was on his feet, and Hope PPBB '' towered bntk against her piotector PPBB Kkth man had weapons drawn, the PPBB ' crowd Hrurrylng madly to keep out of PPBB i j the Hue of fire, when, with a stride, a PPBB ' sew Rgure stepped iilletlj In between PPP1 them Stj-alght as an anow broad BPPB shouldered, Jet small walsted as a BPPH woman, his hall hanging low over his PBBB j coat collar his face smooth shaven BPPB exiepl for a lung moustaihe, and PPPBJ i emotionless, the rexilvers In his belt BtBBsA; n untouched he simply looked at the BftBBBf ( two, and then htrutk the revolver out BPPB ' of the drunken man s hand It fell BPPB harmless to the ground BftPjBJ 'j And don t ou pick It up uutll 1 PPPI. tell you, Scott,' he said quietly. "If BPPfl 3 on do jouvo got to fight me" BPPB ; Without appaiently giving the fnl BPPB K low another thought, he wheeled aud BiiiiR fltCAit thn nlhl.ni B V "Oh, It's you. U It, Doctor Tho BftBBBt A drunken fool won't mako any nmro BBBBt j trouble. Where were you taking the PjBjBB c PPBB i' "To the hotel, PPPBJ ) j "I'll walk aloug with you. 1 reckon BPPB j tlic hoys will give us plenty of room." BPPB J lie glanced over tho crowd and then BPPB f more directly at Scott PPPB ,. "PUk up our gun!" tho brief woids BPPH snapping out. "This la the second time BPPB Vo caught ou hunting trouble Tho BPPB "Vk next tlmo )ou are going to find It I BPPB !i'l saw you run lnu lady what did BPPH I i'i you do BfBBJ - r I only wantu rlie was, BjffBBJB Xt BBBBk .rVBBBBMt neidn ttot in jour ciar. t) name is Hltkock to jou Was It an of jour affair who she was?" "I teckoned I know'd her, and I did " The maishal tinned his eyes toward Hope, and then batk upon Seotl, el-dently el-dently slightly Interested "So7 Herognlred an old friend, 1 suppose?" The slight sneer n "Wild Hill's" soft olte caused Befit to flame up In sudden passion. "No. I didn't! hut I tailed the turn Just the same she'.i Christie Mac-lalre," Mac-lalre," , The marshal smiled. "All right, little boy." he said soberly. sober-ly. "Now )ou trot straight along to bed. Don't let me catch )ou on the street again tonight, and I'd adlse you not to pull another gun )nu're too slow on the trigger for this town Come along, Doctor, and well get Miss Maclalre to her hotel." He shouldered his way through the collected crowd, the other following Hope cndeaoied to speak, to explain to Kalrbaln who she actually was, leal-Izlng leal-Izlng then, for the Prst time, that sl.v had not prelouslj ghen him her name. Amidst tl Incessant noise and confusion the blaring of brass, and the Janglo of voices, she found It Impossible to mako the man comprehend compre-hend She pressed c'oser to him, hold- i Ing nioro tightly to his arm, stunned and confined b) the fierce uproar. The ' atrier stccullijr pushing shead of them, and opening a path for their1 passage, fascinated her, and her e)es! watihed him chrlously Ills name was an oddl) familiar one, associated In ague memory wlih some of Iho most despeiate deeds eer witnessed In the West, yet alwa)H found on the side oil law and order; It was difficult to con-) cehe that this quiet spoken, mild eyed, gently smiling man could Indeed be the most famous gun lighter on the border, hated, feared, jet thoroughly iespectd, by eer) desperado be-, tween the I'lalte and the Canadian. Dejond the glare and glitter of the j Metropolitan Dance Hall the noisy trowd thinned awa) somewhat, and the maishal ventured to drop back beside be-side Kalrbaln )et lgllanlly watched eery approathlng face 'Town appears uriusually lively to night Hill" obsened the latter grave-1 U "and the bo)s hae got an early' start" West end giaders Just paid off," I was the reply "They hae been whoopln' It up eer slme noon, and are beginning to get ugl) Now the lest of the outfit are showing up and ' there will probably be something In-1 terestlng happening before morning Wouldn't mind It so much If I had a single depot) worth his salt" What's the matter with Main?" 'Nothing, while he was on the Job. 1 but 'Red' Haggert) got him In 'Pony loe's' shebang two hours ago, shot1 him In the back across the bar Neil neter een pulled his gun ' "I'm sorrj to hear that: what became be-came of Haggerty' The insrshal let his ejes rest questioning!)' ques-tioning!)' on the do tor's fate for an instant ' Well, 1 happened to be Just behind Ned when he went," he said gently, "and 'Hed' will be bulled on Hoots I It 11' to-morrow I'm afraid I don't t.lve ou ninth elm nee to show jour skill, oc," wltli a smile Mf the) all shot like ou do, in) profession would lie useless What's ibe matter with jour other deputies"" 'Lack of nere principal!), I leek-on leek-on ain't one of 'cm woHh the powder to blow lil'm up" r7gf esiTmethfhg Just now for a fellow I hud down at Dodge I he was a man evei had to tell ' hlin when to go lu, good Judgment I loo. wasn't out hunting for trouble, but alwavs reaih enough to take his share Old soldier In our army, Cnp tain. 1 htard, though he never talked much about himself, maybe you knew hlm--.)ack Keith." I "Well, I reikon." lu quick surprise, ! "and what's more to the point, he's here slept In my room last night " "Ktlth heie' In Sheridan'' And hasn't een hunted me up jet' That's like him all right, but 1 honestlj want to see the bo Heie's your hotel Shall you need me anj longer"" "Helter step In with us, Hill," thf doctor adtlsed. "jour moral Influence might aid In procuring the lady a (te cent room " i NOTICE OF ASSESSMENT. I The Rich-Cache Mining Company, I I'llnclpul place of business, Logan' City, Utah. j Notice la hereby ghen that at a1 meeting of the boaid of directors, held on the 10th day of July, 1911, nu assessment of one mill per slmro wits levied on tho capital stock of the corporation, payable on or beforo the 10th ot August, 1911, to N. W. Kim. ball, treasurer, at his office, at Car-don Car-don Urot., Main street, Logan City, Utah. Av cttnnlr nnmi ulitrh this nSSCSS- mont may remain unpaid on thd 10th day of Aug. 1911, will bo delinquent and advertised for sale at public auction, auc-tion, and unless payment s made before be-fore will bo sold on the 20th day of Aug. 1611, at 2 o'clock p. m. to pay Itho delinquent assessment together with cost of advertising and oxponRO ot sale. :iW. HANSON. Secretary, Ixgon City, Utah. Dated, July 20, 1911. n25 "1 reckon It might" They passed together up the threo rickety steps leading Into the front hall, whlth latter opened directly Into the cramped office; to the left was the wldi open bar-room, clamorous and thiobhlng with life A narrow bench stood against the wall, -with a couple of half drunken men lounging upon It The marshal routed them out with a single, expressive gesture. "Walt here with the lady, Kalrbaln." ho said shortly, "and I'll arrange for the room " The) watihed hllil glance In at the liar, lgllant and cautious, and then mine dliectly across to the dek. "Tommj." he said genially to the clerk. "I've Just escorted a ladj heie I L.I0 -, L 1 rsTTTiTrTK' ii "Any Other Room You Could Conven lently Assign Mr. ah Montgomery Mont-gomery to Tommy?" from the train Miss Maclalre and want you to give her the best room In jour old shebang." The other looked at htm doubtfully "Hell, Hill, I don't know how I'm going to do that," ho acknowledged "She wrote In here to the boss for a room, said she'd be along yesterday Well she didn't show up, an' so to night we let a fellow have It. He's up there now " "Well, he'll hae to amoee who Is he"" "Kngllshuiaii Walter Spotteswood Montgomery,'" consulting his book "Hell of a pompous duck; the bojs tall him Muke Montgomery.'" "All right; send some one up to rout his lordship out lively." Tommj shuffled his feet, and lookell again at the marshal; he had re tcled positive orders about that loom, ard was fully convinced that Montgomery would not tak kindly to eUctlon. Hut Hlckock's quiet graj pjos were Insistent "Here, Hed,'" he tlnall) called 10 the hm ley porter, "hustle up to 'lfi,' 'an' tell that fellow Montgomery ha'a got to get out; tell him we want the room for a lad)." Hltkock watched the man dlsapiieat up the stairs, helped himself caielully to a cigar out of the stand, tossing a i , toln to the cleik and then deliberately I lighting up. "Think Montgomeiy will be pleased"'" lie asked shortly 1 "No. hell prolmblj throw 'Red' down stairs " 'I he marshal smiled, his glante turning turn-ing expectant!) In that direction. "Then perhaps I had better remain, 1 Tommy " And he strolled nonchalantly nonchalant-ly over to fheopen window, and stood I there looking quietly out, a spiral of blue smoke rising from bis cigar. They could distinctly hear the i pounding on the door above, and occasionally oc-casionally the sound of the porter's voice, but the straight, erett figure I at the window remained motionless. ' Finally "lied" came down, nursing his knuckles. "Says he'll be damned If he will says he's gone to bed, an' that there ain't a cussed female In this blasted ' country he'd git up for," he reported clrcumstantlall) to the clerk - "He told me to tell )ou to go plumb to hell, an' that If any one else come , i poundln' "round thar to night, he'd , ' take a pot shot at 'em through the . ' door 'Fifteen' seemed a bit peevish, sir, an' I reckoned If he was riled up much more, he might git rambunc tious; his language was sure fierce." "Wild Hill" turned slowly around, still calmly emoklng, his ejes exhibiting exhibit-ing mild amusement "Did you clearly Infoim Mr. ah Montgomery that we desired the room for the use of a laih 7" he questioned I gently, apparently both pained and shocked. "I did, sir" ' "It surprises me to llnd one In our I city with so little regai d for the or-1 or-1 dlnary courtesies of life Tommy Per-I Per-I haps I can persuade the gentleman." I I Ho disappeared up the stairs, taking them deliberately step h) step, the cigar still smoking between IiIh lips. "Hed" called after him "Keep away from In front of the door, mil; he'll shoot Bine, for he cocked his gun when I was up there." Hlckock glanced back, waved hlH hand "Don't -worry tho room occupied by Mr ah Montgomery waa '15,' I be-llee be-llee you said?" Whatever occmred uhovo, It was oer with very shortly. Those listening listen-ing at tho toot of tbn stairs heard the trot gentle rnp on the door an outburst out-burst ot prnfantt), followed almost Instantly by a sharp snap, aa If n lock had given waj, then brlof scuttling mingled with the loud creaking creak-ing of a bed Scarcely a mlnuto later the marshal appeared ou the landing above one hand firmly gtlpped tn the , neck-band of an undershirt, thus so-cirn so-cirn hnVlr thu wrthln tulD)en figure of a man, who swore violently every tlmo he could catch his breath, pi "Any other room you could conven- UJJJ leniently assign Mr. ah Montgom- KJ ery to, Tommy?" he asked pleasantly. JJjj "If he doesn't like It In the morning, IS he could he changed you know." Vff "Oh e give him '47.'" S "All right. I'm the bell-boy lent- O porarlly, Montgomery; easy nowv ray w man, easy, or I'll be compelled to L. use both hands. 'Hed.' carry the gen- M tleman's luggage lo "47' he has kind- S ly consented to gle up his old room In to a lady tome along, Montgomeij." K It was possibly five minutes later ru when he came down, still smoking, his fjfj face not een flushed. Jn "Montgomerj Is feeling so badly K we were obliged to lock him In," he fU reported to the clerk. "Seems to be J of a somewhat nenpus disposition. Uj Well, good-night, Doctor," he lifted his K hat. "And to you, -miss, iiw iu dreams." pi Hope watched Hint ns he stepped In outside, pausing a moment In the K shadows to glance keenly up and ru down the long stret before enturlng jj down the steps. This quiet man hnd jj enemies, hundreds of them, desperate J and retkless; ceaseless vigilance rv nlone protected him. Yet her ejes j only, and not her thoughts, .were rlv- jr eted on the disappearing marshal. She J turned to Kalrbaln, who had risen to n his feet. 2 "I wish I might see. him, also," she Lt said, as though continuing an Inter- j rupted conversation, n "See him? Who?" "Mr. Keith I I knew him once, u and and. Doctor, won't you tell him Q 1 should like to hne him come and n see mo Just Just ns soon as he can." Continued "on Page 3. Continued from Page 2. CHAPTER XXII. An Interrupted Interview. Miss Christie Maclalre, attired ,ln a nod lounging robe, her luxuriant hair wound simply about her head, forming a decidedly attractive plctur, gazed with manifest dissatisfaction on the bare walls of her room, and then out through to open window into the comparative quiet street below. The 3 bar-tender at the "Palace," directly a opposite, business being slack, was J leaning negligently In the doorway. ..fr "Is roving eyes caught (he fair face JfMfm framed In the window, and he waved his hand encouragingly. Miss Chris- f tie's brown eyes stared across at him In silent disgust, and then wandered I again about the room, her foot tapping j nervously on the rag carpet. J "It's my very last trip (o this town," i nho said decisively, her red lips ' pressed tightly together. Miss Mnclnlro had Indeed iimpto reason to feel aggrieved over her reception. re-ception. She had written to have the best apartment In the house reserved for her, and then, merely because she had later been Invited out to Fort Hays, and was consequently a day behind be-hind In arrival, had discovered that another woman n base Imposter, actually act-ually masquerading under her name had been duly Installed In the coveted Apartment. Driving In from the fort that morning, accompanied by two of tho moro susceptible Junior officers, conscious that sho had performed most artistic work the evening before In tho spacious mess-hall, uid feeling confident of comfortable quarters awaiting her, It had been something of a Phock to Iaj Informed by the perturbed per-turbed clerk that "15" was already occupied by another "A lady what , come In last night, and I naturally supposed It was you." , In vain Miss Maclalre protested, ably backed by tho worshipful officers who still gallantly attended hor; the management was obdurate. Then she would go up herself, and throw the hussy out. Indeed, too angry for bantering further words, Christie had actually started for the stairs, Intending Intend-ing to execute her threat, when the Perspiring Tommy succeeded In stopping stop-ping her, by plainly blurting out the exact truth. "Don't you ever do It," he Insisted. "The marshal brought her In" here, and fired a fellow out o' the room so as to give It to her He'd clean out this house If we ran In a cold deck on a friend o' his." "What do I care for what your marshal does?" "Hut he's Hill Hlckock, Miss, 'Wild i nni.' Miss Maclalre leaned back against S the stalr-iall, her ees turning from , , Tommy to her speechless supporters. HjJGT Slowly tho truth seemed to penetrato " her brain. jf "Oh," she gasped at last "Then j then what else can you give mo?" "t The officers hod long since depart- j ed, promising, however, to remain ' over In town and hoar her again that ! night at the Trocadcio, with hints as to a late supper; she had received a call from the manuger of that most ! populnr resort, and had rendered his i life mlsornblo by numerous demun-'s, had passed half an hour practicing with the leader of the orchestra; but J ipi alone tired, decided ly Irritable, and still tempted to In-... In-... .. .inn r,lo that other woman u piece or hor mind, Then some one rapped on the door. There was a decided de-cided accont of vexation In the voice which bade tho one outside enter, but the lady's mood changed swiftly as her brown eyoa perceived standing In the doorway tho erect form of Keith, the light from the window revealing clearly his Btrong face. The man stood hat In hand, bowing slightly, unable un-able to comprehend why he should have been sent for, yet marvelling I again at the remarkable resemblance I betwopn this woman and that other ! whom ho had left at Fort Lamed, As 1 Miss Maclalre stood with back toward tho window, sho presented the same youthful appearance, the same slen-' slen-' dcrncss of figure, the same contour of face "Miss Chrlstlo Maclatre?" ho uakod, as though In doubt. , "Yes," graciously, won Instantly by I tho man's appearance and mannor, 1 "you wished to see me? Will you bo seated?" Ho crossed the narrow room to the stiff-backed chair Indicated, and the lady sank negligently down Into her own, resting her head against a pll- low, and regarding bltn expectantly I He could vlow hor now much more j distinctly, observing the slight dlffor- I ence In ago, the fuller lips, tho darker shade of the hair, and tho varied expression ex-pression of tho oyes, It was as If a different soul had looked forth from I tho home faco. He had never before I realized how little, apparently trilling, I details marked the human counten- j unco, and, emlmrrusRcd by her own j scrutiny, his glance swept about the t j room. Mlsundorstandlng this shifting l of eyes. Miss Chrlstlo sought to place W tho man more at case. j "The room la a perfect fright," she observed briskly, "but what can one expect In these mushroom towns. Really I had never been here before, or 1 shouldn't have come Thoy pay rood monoy though for talent, and wre all have o live, you know. Are are you In professional work?" Ho shook his head, smiling, somewhat some-what perplexed at his reception "Really I didn't suppose you woro," he wont on, "you don't look It. Hut thcro are so many who come to mo to help them that I have grown suspicious sus-picious of every Blranger. May I ask why you desired to see me?" Another suspicion had taken possession pos-session of her jrtilnd., for the men of that sect!on were Tiever oacicwara in exhibiting admiration, yet somehow this man did not seem exactly of that kind "I came merely because t was senf for, Miss Maclalre," he replied, his gray eyes once again upon her face. "Doctor Falrbaln gave me your mes-sago; mes-sago; I am Jack Keith." She looked the crvnplele astonishment astonish-ment she felt, sitting up In the chair, her eyes tilled with questioning doubt. "Doctor Falrbaln! My message! Surely you are mistaken? I know no one of that name, and have sent no message." "You did not express n rtealre to see me?" She laughed, exhibiting a row of white teeth. "Certainly not: not until this m-ment m-ment was I even aware of the exl tence of Mr. Jack Keith " His own eyes smiled In response to challenge of hers, "I can assure you the surprise was mine also," he hastened to Inform her. now more at ease, as he grasped tho situation. "I could not undei stand how I had become known to you. ct I pledge you my word the message was actually brought. Of course you may suspicion otherwise, for I havn seen you on the stage and being a normal man, have wished that I could devise some txcuse for meeting you." "Indeed!" ler oycbrowB slightly up. lifted. "Yes, I make that confession frankly, frank-ly, yet this call comes fioni no such desire. 1 had no question when I came, but what I had been sent foi you will bellee this?" "I Biippose I must, yet It seems teiy peculiar," she replied, feeling convinced con-vinced that he was a gentlomun, and troubled na to what she had best do "Yet now that you have discovered )our mistake" "I hope to take advantage of the opportunity," he broke In flrmly, leaning ullghtly forward "May I ask you a question?" ' "1 could hardly prevent It, and really real-ly I do not know that I have nnythlng to conceal." 9 "Then I will rla"k the effort do you know a man named Hawley? Hart-lett Hart-lett Hawley?" Her eyes did not falter, although a red spot shot Into hor cheeks, and her lips pressed together "No; that Is I havo never met him," she acknowledged. Just a little confused. con-fused. "Hut I have received two letters let-ters signed by that name, and rather expected the gentleman would call Keith Backed Into the Corner His Hand In His Pocket. upon me heie In Sheridan during my engagement. Is that your mission? Were you sent by him? or are you Mr. Hawley?" "I disclaim all relation, Miss Maclalre, Mac-lalre, even friendship You, of course, know who this Individual Is?" "No," the short ruonosyllablo was not encouraging. "Ills messages were of a business character." "So 1 presumed, yet one likes to know something oven of tho person he docs buslnoss with I have been acquainted ac-quainted with Ilnwley for several years, and havo nevor been aware of any honorable business he has ever engaged In, Ho Is a professional gambler, known on the frontier as 'Black Hart;' last night he was running run-ning a faro game across there In tho 'Palace.' I cannot help wondering what kind of buslnoss such a fellow could possibly have with you, Miss Maclalre." Tho woman's oyes Hashed, hardening harden-ing In their brown depths. "What right have you to nsk?" sho began Indignantly. "I am capable of deciding my own affalis As I have told you I havo never met Mr. Hawley, Haw-ley, but I am not to be Influenced against him merely l the denunciation denuncia-tion of nn avowed enemy. He has written me of something he has discovered dis-covered which Is of deep personal Intel In-tel est to mo, and haw promised to tell me tho details, us well as place within my hands certain necessary papers " "I appreciate your feelings," he said gently, as she paused, "but would you mind tolling mo thu naturo of those papers?" There was something In Keith's faco which told of honesty, nnd Inspired In-spired confidence Miss Maclnlro's worldly experience had given her deep Insight luto the character of men. and somehow, as she looked Into tho clear gray oyes, bIio felt Impelled to answer, a vaguo doubt of the unknown Haw. ley In her mind. "They they were papers to establish estab-lish Identity. He had dlscoveied them by accident, they have to do with an Inheritance Heally that Is all I know, for ho wroU very briefly, stating It would be safar to confer with me personauy-J-tmiy i iiMtpdim mertf n a large sum Involved " "From whose estate?" "My grandfather's." "And his name was?" "Why why, Mr. Keith, actually 1 do not know. It may neem strange, but but I cannot even tell thj namett of my parents; 1 cannot remember either my father or mother. Oh, I do not know why I should tell you all this! Who are )ou, really? Why do you ask me such questions?" lie leaned forward, touched by the woman's emotion. Miss Maclalre," he said grately "1 m not pi) lug Into jour life needlessly, needless-ly, but am iMideavorlng to serve you as well as othcis Hawley may Indeed In-deed possess papers of ijio.it value, but If so they were not found by accident, ac-cident, but stolen f lorn thu body of a murdered man. These papers may possibly refer to you, but If so Haw I ley himself does not believe It ho has rlmply chosen you to Impersonate the right party because of your physical phys-ical lesemblanr.e." ' ' Itesemblanot to whom'" To a young woman, a Miss Hope." "Hut how do )ou know this? Why I'lii'iild you bo Interested? Aro you a , detective" ' No, 1 am not a detective, but 1 rHiinot explain to you my Interest. I am trjlng to servo you, to keep you from being drawn Into a plot" ' Rather to keep me from learning the truth, Mr Jack Keith," she burst forth, rising to her feet Indignantly. "You are here trying to prejudice me against Mr. Hawley. Ho Is your cno-my, cno-my, Bnd you have come to me stabbing stab-bing him In the back for revengo. That Is your Interest. Well, 1 nm go- t lng to see the mnn, nnd consider what he has to say 1 don't care half so much about the money as I do to find out who I am. If ho can throw any light on my early life, on my parent-Hgo, parent-Hgo, I shall bo the happloBt woman In the world. I nm sorry I told yoy nnythlng but I am going to sen him just the same. Perhaps he might tell mo something about you " They were both standing, the Oman's Om-an's eyes flashing angrily, defiantly, her hands clinched. Keith, realizing tho false position Into which he had dilfted, hesltatod to answer. Ho infant to tell her tho whole story, and uigo her to co-operate with him In learning the gambler's purpose. Tho woman lmprcssod him as honest at henrt, In spite of her life and environment; environ-ment; sho wna not one whom a swln- dler could easily dupe Intp becoming a tool. j "Miss Maclalre," he began, de tci mined on his course, "listen to" me tor Just a moment I am" There was a nip at the door Iho eyes of both turned that way, and then Keith backed slowly Into tho duikened comer beyond the window, his right hand thrust Into tho pocket of his ioat Miss Maclalre observed the movement, her lips mulling, a rod flush on either cheek Thon sho stepped ncioss the room, and opened tho door Framed against the black ( background of the hall, his dark, rather rath-er handsome face cleat ly rovenlod as he fronted the window, his black, audacious au-dacious eyes fixed nppreclatlngly upon the lady, stood "Illnck Hart" Hawloy He saw no one but her, realized' no other presence, had no thought except to mnko a good Impression. Ho wna facing n beautiful woman, whom ho sought to use, and he bowed low, hat In hand. "Miss Maclalre," be said, ploasantly, "I trust you will pardon all that has occurred between us, and permit me to explain " "I I do not understand," she replied, re-plied, puzzled by these unexpected words. "Thore has nothing occuned between us, I nm sure, which roqulrcs explanation. Havo wo mot beforo?" The man smiled. Seeing the woman's wom-an's face In the shadows he was still convinced she wns the same he had last parted with on the Salt Fork. However, If sho preferred to Ignore all that, and begin their relations nnow, It was greatly to his liking. It gavo him Insight Into her character, and fresh confidence that ho could gain hor assistance, as-sistance, Anyhow, he was ready enough to play hor gamo "Let us assume not," Just tho slight-eat slight-eat trace of mockery In the tono, "and begin nnow At least, you will confess tho iccolpt of my letters I am Hart-lett Hart-lett Hawloy " Sho cast a hnlf-filghtened glance toward to-ward Keith, and tho man, following tho direction of her eyes, perceived tho presonco of the other. Hln right leg went bnckward, his hand dropping to the bolt, his form fctlffenlng erect. Keith's voice, low but clenr In tho silence, scorned to cut the air "Not a motion, Hawley! I havo o covered " "Oh, gontlemen, please don't!" "Havo no fenr, Miss Maclalre, this man and I will settle our dlfforenco elsewlioro, nnd not In your presence." He stopped forth Into tho middle of the room, revolver drawn, but held low at the 111 p. his watchful ojes never deserting the gambler's faco "Hack up against tho wall, Hawloy," he commanded "I hardly need to tell you how I shoot, for we, nt least, hnvo mot bofore Now, I'm going out, nnd leave you to your Interview with Miss Maclalre, and I wish you happiness apd success " He mocd across to tho opening keeping his faco toward his adversary, adver-sary, then backed out slowly, closed the door with a snap, nnd sprang aside to avoid nny possibility of a bullet bul-let crashing after him. No Bound of movement .from within reached hln oars, however, aud ho wivlked silently to the head of the stairs i To Hi Continued |
