The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-08-28
OLIVES
OUTLAW.
By TAYLOR WHITE.


Spouting Springs hotel ever since the
spring season had got fully under way.
As a business getter the outlaw was
4 huge success. No shore resort with
an authentic sea serpent ever enjoyed
such popularity, and the stages that
met the trains from the east numbered
back over the twenty mile trail loaded
to capacity with women who openly
avowed their timidity and inep who
tried more or less successfully to con-
ceal theirs.
Almost every afternoon the porch
was crowded to witness the departure
of the sheriff and his posse, and al
most as regularly some Of the guests
came hurrying back to the hotel to
tell how they had been held up and
stripped Of their valuables with an
expedition that cxcelled the speed Of
the man back OF the marble counter
In the rotunda. The latter kept the
books and each day set down op-
posite each account a sum that would
have obtained board and lodgings for n
week Mt a hotel not cursed-or blessed
by a bandit.
Approaching the fact that much OF
his booty was keepsakes and heir
looms, the bandit was always ready to
trade back his plumber for the more
convenient specie, and as the landlord
insisted upon making good all losses
there were no complaints, Indeed. the
guests rather enjoyed being held up,
1t gave them something to talk about
when their visit was over. Many OF
the visitors by oft repeated telling 81
embroidered the accounts of their in
dividual holdups that the tales would
have offered good material for mag
azines. But 1t was not until Olive
Marchand came that the real sensa
ton was sprung.
Until then the outlaws taciturnity
had been his most pronounced char
acteristic, but when the slip Of a girl
came rushing down the path from the
springs to tell how Black Pete had
not only held her up, but had de.
tanned her in conversation for more
than an hour, every woman In the
hotel turned envious. The following
afternoon the banks of the stream fed
by the springs were dotted with wo-
men waiting to be captured and talked
to that they might share Miss Mar
Glands prestige.
Possibly it was for this reason that
Miss Marchand, walking down the val
ley instead Of toward the springs, was
confronted by a 1.-the figure above
whose square cut chin appeared a
mask of black velvet that lent a deeper
brilliance to a glIttering gray eye.
I'm glad to see you this afternoon
was the greeting. Il rather thought l
should find you here. The woods are
too crowded above, and SO came down
Ill effects from the shock of our meet
Ing yesterday"
Il rather enjoyed It," admitted Olive
frankly. Il really think that the other
women are envious."
Pete smiled at recollection of the
goodly company he had passed on his
way down the trail. There was no
question about 1t. He motloned her to
d seat on the fallen trunk Of a tree
and sat down beside her.
The girl was an eager questioner, and
presently he was Keeling Off stories OF
adventure with q dash that brought
the glow Of excitement to Miss
Marchand's eyes. To make 1t still
; more thrilling, there was a crashing
sound among the trees, and without
word the outlaw swung himself W
into a tall pine just as the sheriff ant
his posse came tearing along.
l They paused long enough to warn
: the girl that Black Pete was supposed
to be somewhere In her vicinity ant
that it would be well for her to return
to the hotel by the trail instead o.
through the woods; then they hurried
on, and Pete swung himself dowr
from his perch.
This Is the easiest experience l eve
had" he declared laughingly. "Th'
sheriff trusts to numbers and hard rid
ing, with the result that | have plent.
Of time to disappear when l hear hin
} coming"
} 1T must be terrible to feel that yoV
I are n hunted thing" unused Olive, witt
! n little shudder.
That's the joyous part" declares
J the outlaw. 81 am not hunted whel
! the pursuit Is In the hands Of tn
I sheriff. But let's forget the sheriff,
I he added. 1--WE told you all about my
I self. Now, turn about is fair play"
I 1T would seem so tame after wha
/ YOU have told me-" she demurred. Blu
: she was soon deep in her subject, an
I it was not until the afternoon shadow
s heightened that at last she recalle
herself and hurried up the trail towar
3 the hotel, where half a hundred disaI
4 pointed women were already gathere
upon the porch.
There was not exactly an arrang'
ment to meet the following afternoon
but Black Pete had said that he woul
be over on "the branch" and she foun
him there In the late afternoon. Tn
time he had removed his mask, di
closing a face In which there was =
hint OF the depravity with which !
was credited. 1t was an honest. man
face, with frank. gray eyes and a Ia
gle OF crisp yellow curls above
smooth white brow. With the maj
of, only two ass swung on his hi
suggested ,he bad man, and viii
4u,na nitya fnr0nt fhaf aha W,