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Show Jv E I TH OF THE BORDER A TALE OF THE PLAINS Br RANDALL PARRISH Autbof of "MY LADY OF THESOUTH," K HENWr)ERNESSWASKING,"c. f, , tantratkm by DIAMORN MILVBX. (Ooprlf ht, A. O. McClurc Co., 1910.) CHAPTER X. Mr. Hawlcy Revolt Hlmsslf. A fragment of candle, stuck tightly Into the neck of an empty bottle, appeared ap-peared on a low shelf, and Kolth lighted light-ed It, the girl returning the lamp to Its former position on the front room table, Investigation revealed a dozen cartridges fitting the revolver, but no ammunition Mas discovered adapted 10 the sawed-off gun, which Neb had already appropriated, and was dragging drag-ging about with him, peering Into each black corner In anxious search. The two were still busily employed at this, when to their ears, through the Htlllness of the night, there came the I unexpected noise of splashing In the water without, and then the sound of a horse stumbling as he Btruck the bank. Quick as a flash Keith closed the Intervening door, extinguished the dim flame of the candle, and grasping - the startled negro'B arm, hushed him Into silence. Crouching close behind the door, through a crack of which the light streamed, )leldlng slight view of the Interior, the plainsman anxiously awaited developments. These arrivals must certainly be some of those connected con-nected with the house; there could be little doubt as to that. Nevertheless, they might prove the posse following them, who had chanced to stumble accidentally on their retreat. In either eith-er case they could merely wait, and learn. Some one swore without, and was sharply rebuked by another voice, which added an order gruffly. Then the outer latch clicked, and a single man stepped within, Immediately closing clos-ing the door. Keith could not see tho girl through the small aperture, but lie heard her quick exclamation, startled, jet full of relief. "Oh, Is It jou? I am so gladj" The 'man laughed lightly. "It Is nice to be welcomed, although, perhaps, after your time of loneliness any arrlwil would prove a relief. Did yon think I wus never coming, Christie?" Chris-tie?" r"l could not understand," she re- piled, evidently with much leHS en-i en-i thualasm, ami to Keith's thinking, a shade resentful of the famlllurlty, "but naturally xupiiosed you must lie unexpectedly unex-pectedly delayed." "Well, I was," and he apparently flung both coat ami hot on a bench, with the Intention of remaining.. "The marshal arrested a fellow for a murder mur-der committed out on tho Santa Fo Trait, and required me as a witness, llut the man got away before we had any chance to try him, ami I havo been on his trail ever since." "A murder; Did you Imagine ho came this way?" "Not very likely; fact of it is, the sand storm yesterday destroyed all traces, and, bb a result, we've lost him. So I headed u few of the boys over In this direction, as I wanted to relieve you of anxiety." She was silent an Instant, and tho man crossed to the fireplace, where Keith could gain a glimpse of 1ilin. Already susplclouB from the familiar sound of his voice, he wus not surprised sur-prised to recognize "Hlack Dart." The plainsman's fingers gripped the negro's arm, his eyes, burning. So this gambler and blackleg was the gentlemanly Mr. Hawley, wns he; well, what could be his little game? Why had he Inveigled the girl into this lonely Bot? And what did he now propose doing with her? As he crouched thejo, peering through that convenient crack In the door, Keith completely forgot his own peril, Intent only upon thlb new discovery. dis-covery. She came slowly around the end of the table, und stood leaning ugalnst it, her face clearly revealed in the light of the lamp. For tho first timo Keith realfy perceived Its beauty, Us fresh charm. Could such as she be singer and dancer In a frontier concert con-cert hall? And if so, what strange conditions over drove hor into that tort of life? "Is Is Fred with you?" sho questioned, ques-tioned, doubtfully. "No; he'B with another party riding farther west," the innn'g eyes surveying survey-ing her with manifest 'approval. ' You are certainly looking lino to-night, my girl. It's (llfticult to understand how I eer managed to kcip away from ou so long." Sho flushed to tho hair, her lips & trembling at tho open bojdnoss of his P tone. "I I prefer you would not speak like that," she protested. I "And whv not?" with n light laugh. "Come, Christie, such fine airs aro a I trifle out of place. If I didn't know S ou w s a concert hall artist. I might B bo mo.j deeply InipresHod. As It Is, i U I reckon you've heard lovo words bo gj fore now," d "Mr. Hawlsy, I have trusted jou as a gentleman. I nover came hero ex-fi ex-fi copt on your promise to bring mo tn M ray brother," and sho stood eroct bo m foro him. "You havo no right to even 1 assumo that I am Christie Maclulro." "Sure not; I dou't assumo. I Jtavo g seen that, lady too ofton to be mlo-B mlo-B taken. Don't try on that sort of thing with mo I dou't .take jo it kindly. -i 11 , iKIli Jitil ter humor." He took a step forward, as though proposing to,. carry out his threat, but the girl stopped him, bar ayes burn-Ins; burn-Ins; with Indignation. "How dare youl" sn sccltlmtd passionately, pas-sionately, all fear leaving her In ud-len ud-len resentment. "You think me alone here and helpless; that you can Insult mo at your pleasure. Don't go too far, Mr. Hawley. I know what you re now, and It makes no difference liat vou may think of me, or call me; you'll find me perfectly able to defend myself." "Oh, Indeed !"sneerlngly, "you are melodramatic; you should hae been an actress Instead of a singer, llut ou waste your talent out here on me. Do you Imagine 1 fear either you, or your precious brother? Why, I could have him hung to-morrow." She was staring at him with wide open eyes, her face white. "What what do you mean? Whut has Fred done?" He was cold and sarcastic. 'That makes no difference; It Is what I could Induce men to swear he had done. It's easy enough to convict In this country, If jou only know how, I simply tell you this, bo you won't press me too hard. Puritanism Puri-tanism Ib out of place west of the Missouri, Mis-souri, especially among ladles of your profession. Oh, come, now, Christie, don't try to put such airs on with me. I know who you are, all right, and can guess why you are hunting after Fred Wllloughby. I pumped the boy, and got most of the truth out of him." "You you have seen him, then, since you left me," she faltered, bewildered, be-wildered, "and didn't bring him here with you?" "Why should I?" and the man stepped forward, his eyes on her, his. hands twitching with a desire to clasp her to him, yet restrained by some un-definable un-definable power. "While I believed your brother story, I could have played play-ed the good Samaritan most beautifully, beautiful-ly, but after I talked with Wliloughby I prefer him at a distance." "My brother story! Do you mean to Insinuate you doubt his being "my brother? He told you that?" "He gave up the whole trick. You can't trust a kid like that, Christie. A couple of drinks will loosen his tongue, ton-gue, and put you In wrong. Come, now, I know It all; be reasonable." I Apparently the girl had lost her ' power of speech, staring blindly at the ' face of the man before her, as a bird I meets the slow approach of a snake. i Keith could hee her lips move, i but ( making no sound. Hawley evidently I Interpreted her silence as hesitation, (Uiiiht as to his real meaning. '"You see where )ou are at now, Christie," he went on swiftly. "Hut ' you don't need to be afraid. I'm going ! to be a friend to you, and you can be mighty glad you got rid of Wltloughy 'so easily. Why, 1 can bit) jou diamonds dia-monds where he couldn't give you a ' calico dress. Come on, let's btop this 'foolishness. I took n liking to jou I buck then: In the stage, and the more ( I've thought about ou since the crazier I've got, When I succeeded In Iuimpliig Wllloughby dry, and discovered discov-ered jou wasn't his sister at all, why that settled the matter. I came down here nfter you. 1 lovo you, do jou understand un-derstand that? And, what's more, 1 Intend to have you!" He reached out, and actually grasped grasp-ed her, but, In some manner, she tore loose, and sprang back around the end of the table, hor cheeks flushed, her eyes burning. "Don't touch mo! don't dare touch me!" she panted. "You lie; Kred Wllloughby Wll-loughby never told you that. If you come one step nearer, I'll scream; I'll cull your men here: I'll tell them the kind of a cur you are." He laughed, leaning over toward her, yet hesitating, his eyes full of ud-miration ud-miration Her very fierceness appealed to him, urged him 011, "Oh, 1 wouldn't; In the first place they probably wouldn't hear, for they are camped down In the corral. I suspected sus-pected you might be something of a tigress, and preferred to fight It out with you alone. Then, even if they did hear, there would be no Interference Inter-ference I'e got those fellows tralnod I too well fur tliut. Come on, Christie; you'ie helpless bore." I "Am 1?" "Yes, jou aro." He took a stop toward her, his huudH flung out. With one quick movement she sprung aside and extinguished the lamp, plunging the room Into Instant darkness, A few red coals glowed dully lu the flreplnco, but all olse was denso blackness. Keith heard the movements of Hawley, as he felt his was uncertainly along the table, swenrlng as he failed to find tho girl. Then, like a shadow, he glided through the' partly open door Into the room. To Ilo Continued. |