Show CY LE or tic plaine 4 chor ormy lavy or HEM waa ere lit MINNIN by 1 V 2 A Q mccliss A co 2210 SYNOPSIS jack keith a now a bor 4 ar dor plainsman li is looking for or roam roaming ns war ad parties of fa savages fava vases sef II 11 lie its sees a team at full gallop pursued by men on ponie ponies 4 when keith reach reaches the wacon wagon the raid en era lav lave massacred ma two men and departed lie caret es e the victim victims finding paper papers I 1 and end a locket with a woman woman portrait keith is I 1 arrest I 1 at carson oty I 1 ty charged with the murder his hi accius ac cus be ine ing a lan named black bart pirt A negro E companion in his hl lell named neb lella tells him that he hiew tys r at th in Virg virginia inJa neb nob f says on ot of the mu mur murderer derel r I 1 men wae wits jol n 1 the other gen walte torm form orly a confederate officer the the klainman pla inman bof and neb nob eseau and later t the fugitive fugitives i com come upon a cabin and and find its occupant to be n u young girl horn hom keith think thinks the he saw aw a ai careon carson city the girl explain explains that she he li Is in search ot of a brother who 11 hal hat deserted from the au ny aut T and that a amr aft haw ley induced her to come to the cabin a lit while he soult OUK t her broiher brother haw itaw uey ley appears and keith in eidl hiding n c jilles him an black hart dart there thero f T 3 a ter alac 1 battle in the darkened to room in which keith la Is victor horse are appropriated and the girl who says that her name ti in it bopa joins in the efface keith explain explains ints eite atlon tion arli the fugitives make tor for tort vort lamed larned where the eld kid Is I 1 wt with if arthe hotel landlady landl landlady ww MI hope tell tells that aha who la Is tl a 4 daug daughter ter oy ot general wa WC te to keith aal an nib dr d 14 t into shied sheridan where a el it meets an ell friend ur r ua alth I 1 h meeta meet X the brother of hope X alte under er the a assumed name of 0 fred wll v loughry and becomes convinced colv inee artl that t h ili black dart hai has ome some plot involving the itao learn learns that gen annatto alte who t was 11 thought hought murdered Is t at sheridan toe goes there where she he is 1 mist altin for or Macl alro th caron carson city keith meet meets the ral roal christie maclaire Maci alre end ind that black bert bart has ha convinced her hor that there la Is a mystery in her lle life wm chib ti ho h la to going 1 to turn to her addan ilage CHAPTER r misa bliss maclaire be aid said pleasantly rea antly 1 I truet trust you III all that has occurred between ue us and permit me to explain 1 1 do no tinder understand stand the replied puzzled by these unexpected words there has nothing occurred between us I 1 am lure sure which requires L explanation llave we met before the man smiled seeing the worn in a face in the shadow shadows he wan was still convinced zon vinced she was the same he bad had last parted with on the salt fork however it she preferred to ignore all that and begin their relations anew it was greatly to his liking it gaye gave him insight into her character and fresh confidence that be he could gain her as Bi stance anyhow be he was ready enough to play her game let us assume not just the slight est trace ot of mockery in the tone and begin anew at least you will confess the receipt ot of my letters I 1 am dart bart left lett hawley she rast cast a half frightened glance toward keith and the man following tho the direction ei of her eyes d the presence of the other his ills right leg went backward his hand dropping to the belt nis form stiffening erect keiths low but clear in the ti silence lence teemed to cut the air not a motion Ilaw leyl I 1 have you covered ob oh gen gentlemen please don tl it have no fear miss Mac maclaire latre this roan mart and I 1 mill settle our difference elsewhere and cot not in your presence he lie stepped orth forth into the middle of the room revolver 1 drawn but held low at the hip bla his watchful eyes never deserting the gamblers face dack back up against the wall flaw flable le 1 be he commanded coran anaed 1 I hardly need tr to tell you bow how I 1 shoot for we at least hare have met before now im going out and leave you to your interview ath miss bliss maclaire laci alre hod I 1 wish you happiness and access success he lie moved across to the opening keeping his face toward his adver fary then backed out slowly closed the door with a snap and sprang aside to avoid any possibility of a bullet crashing after bin him no sound of i movement from within reached his pare cars however and bo be walked silently 1 to the head of tha stairs CHAPT ER an Ur expected meeting S keith paused at the landing look flag ina down into the deserted office al most tempted to return and force hawtey into I 1 R confession ot of his rut pos pose it was essy easy for him to conceive what would be the final cf of thia this interview between the artistic ambler gambler and miss maclaire in ill spite of the vague of evil which the plainsman cad bad implanted within he the womans mind the other possessed the advantage and would certainly improve it it all conditions were decidedly cid edly in his favor he ile merely needed to convince the girl that she he was actu actually the party sought and she would go to forward playing the game he be dedred deril red believing herself right totally unconscious ot of any raud fraud the vcr simplicity of it ran dered dared the piot the more dangerous the be more difficult to expose hawley had lean factored by fortune in discovering this singer who chanced to resemble hope so remarkably and who at the saon sam time WAS in such ignorance BS as to her own parentage she would be he ready to grasp at ft it straw and nce persuaded as to her id aty and lent rights co child ild henat forth be rusted trusted implicitly as an ally realizing a tala and comprehend tug ni alfo bow autly would win her conti lecce soa a overcome his warning by denouncing him as ft Is full fuzi live artim charged wits 1 murder abo b to 4 return and alt it 0 01 ra r es I 1 ca 5 I 1 0 12 wa was your call upon M MIs mattalee Matt alre very interesting out then and there became almost overpowering lie ile had no fear of hawley indeed physical fear had scarcely a place in his competition but bo he was not as yet sufficiently for tilled with facts for the seeking ot 0 such an encounter A roan man came in through the office and began climbing the stairs he lie as almost at the landing before keith recognized bim him or the othet glanced up ahleen Ah seen her I 1 suppose yes returned keith not thinking it worth white while to mention the lads lad denial of having seat sent for him 1 I nave have juit just come from the Hum tho thought tight you d be through by ty this time floe one looking girl ain sin t shet the allee bl lee ill run in and chat with her myself 1 I 1 would advise you tc to select some other time doctor aid said the younger as be the idy has a visitor at present A visitor bis his face rosy bis his eyes darkening darke ilog ah of the male sex 1 I judge judgeson jud geso so black bart hawley good lordt so to startled bis his voice broke did he see you ll kather I 1 backed him up against the all with a gun sun while I 1 made my adieu dut but what brought him there are they acquainted dont ask conundrum conundrums doctor he ito may be your rival with the fair lady for all I 1 know it he Is my thies are all with you only I 1 wouldn it try to see miss just now I 1 id d watt for a dearer clearer held field hawley Is probably not lu in the beet beat of humor fairbain stared into the faco face of the speaker uncertain whether or not to was being laughed at reckon youre right be he acknowledged at last tired anyhow been out all night thought I 1 14 d alki ilk lo 10 0 o see her again though finest loo louring ing woman I 1 to met since I 1 came west remarkable eyes well ill 60 u along to bed see you again tomorrow to morrow jack keith watched etched th sturdy figure stamp heavily down the hallway loore boards creaking creak iLg under hl bit post five tread and smiled to himself at the thought hut that he might have n deed become truly interested la in th thi hall singer somehow the doctor did not harmonize harrson tze with the con can 0 of 1 s ro or fit graciously into the picture still stranger mating had occurred and cupid doe doea not ask permission before he play plays prank pranks with hearts kelto turned again toward the stain stairs only to observe a woman slowly cross the office and cosmenco corn com menco he the she was in the shadow her face even more deeply shaded by her hat yet he stared at per bar in amazement birely it was miss silts yet hor boor could it be b lie its bid bed eft bit person scarcely of five before in 26 2 md lad stair arar jay as a the only lit ills hand grasped the rail his we beart th throbbing abbing as a v suspicion of the truth creased his brain could this be ilona could it be that she sh was hr here also As her touched the land log ing she he saw aw him her eyes lighting up a la in recognition ft a ware wave of color her cheek cheeks why captain keith she exclaim ed extending her gloved hand band frankly you have been to my roond and were going away I 1 am eo so glad I 1 came in time I 1 hardly thought to meet you he replied retaining ret alting her bar fingers in bt his grasp when did you reach sheridan only last night I 1 had no idea you were here until doctor fairbarn ln to mention your name then I 1 lit k I 1 once begged him to tell you how bow exceedingly anxious I 1 wai was to eee see you you see I 1 was wa sure ure you would come if you only 1 knew I 1 really thought you would be here thia this morning and remained a my room waiting wat ting but there were vere some things I 1 actually had hid to have I 1 wain t out ten minutes BO so you think I 1 sent you a mes sage and then forgot the nature of the mistake wa was lie te coining coming apparent and cd keiths gray eye eyes smiled as they looked into the depths ct r the brown message bad had rather an amusing result he cald said I 1 ai as the doctor in formed me that Ws bliss christie maclaire ivas as the one who desired my pres ence silts Mc mchael lael her voice 1 exhibit ing ins startled tart led Lar k prise by by oh ob I 1 did forget target I 1 never told him dif fervently ferent forent ly why it wai was most loue lous she laughed white teeth gleaming between the parted red lip lips yet not altogether happily let me explain ei plain captain keith for really I 1 have not ben been masquerading doctor and I 1 arrived upon the be same train t last evening lie la Is uch such a IL funny man but wa was very nice and offen ed d to escort me to the hotel I 1 hamem ber bar now that although he introduced himself I 1 never once thought to men lion tion to him my name the town was as very rough ough r last night the company had paid off the graders I 1 wai was told and there wag was no carriage so we were compelled to walk I 1 11 I 1 never aw saw such a mob of drunken men one came reeling against toe me and brushed aside my veil so as to see my face the doctor truck struck him and then the marshal came up you know him bill Ilic hickock kock and the impudent fellow follow actually declared doc lared ho he knew know me that I 1 wa was christie Maci maclaire alre I 1 tried to explain but they hurried roe me on farough through the crowd to the hotel and I 1 became ecamp confused and forgot do suppose they registered me by that name quite likely at least still bel believes feves it was wits tag whom he io gallat gallantly itly last night how provoking her foot tapping the floor a little wrinkle between her eyes it seems ai as though I 1 t escape that woman does she does she really look like iner me at a little distance yes be he ad bitted her form and face resemble yours very closely but her bar hair Is darker her eyes have a different ex and she must be five ilya or six year years older I 1 lado la do you know ner well no indeed I 1 hare have seen her sever al ILI times on the stage but never cover met her until a few moments ago A few moments agol ago do you mean she Is here la to this hotel yes miss bliss hope and that was abat made the mistake la in names so laugh able fairbain gave me your BIOS raes sage but as coming from christie Chr litle I 1 was of course greatly surprised yet responded the lady very promptly denied baring having sent for me but as 1 was anxious to interview her bar myself we managed to drift into conversation and I 1 must have passed a half hour there I 1 might hare have been there sull suit but for an interruption ob oh Inde indeed edl I 1 with rising inflection lie glanced quickly about reminded of the situation yes hawley came in and I 1 would prefer not to meet him here ot 01 hav have him discover you were in sheridan could we not go to your room 1 have bave auch to tell you her iler questioning eyes left bis his face and aud stared down the rail A heavily built man with red reil moustache leaned against the clerk clerks a desk do jou you know that man she asked quickly he ile followed fol lored me all tee the time I 1 was shopping 1 I 1 I believe he la Is the came same one who jostled mo la in the crowd last night keith leaned pait past be he tn to get a better view but the fellow turned and slouched away I 1 only bad a glimpse but have no recollection of ever seeing him before you beard no name wild dill bill called him either scott or Scotty it lf this Is the same man keiths jaw set the fighting light burning in his yea ayes that was the name of the fellow follow rooming with willoughby willough lough by the one who seemed tu to b bt Ilaw leye special assistant A mere accident tro probably bably but about my request may J talk with you a few moments alone she bowed apparently still fled ned regarding bis his berj ler thy converse tion with chrissit Chri yet permitted blai to bollor down the hall she held hold open the door of IS and be he entered silently not woolly understanding tn too change in her manner she stood be fore the dresser drawing off oil her gloves and removing her bar bat hat will be seated captain tas arm chair by the window Is the more comfortable she turned toward him almost shyly yet with womanly cur cuts osley bleb which would not be stilled A aa ax your call upon miss maclaire very in te resting did you yoa admire admira her ory ry bucht TO ac UZ CONTINUED |