Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-10-30
OLIVES
OUTLAW.
By TAYLOR WHITE.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.
BY TAYLOR WHITE.

The outlaw had been making things
pretty lively for the guests of the
Spouting Springs hotel ever since the
spring season had got fully under way.
As business getter the outlaw was
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 timldity and men who
tried more or less successfully to con-
ceal theirs.
Almost every afternoon the porch
was crowded to witness the departure
of tAe 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 excelled the speed of
the man back of the ma, 'se counter
In the rotunda. The latter kept the
books and each day set down OPP
posite each account sum that would
have obtained board and lodgings for
week ut IA hotel not cursed-or blessed
by bandit.
Appreciating 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
II gave them something to talk about
when their visit was over. Many Of
the visitors by oft repeated telling 30
embroidered the accounts of their in
dividual holdups that the tales would
have offered good material for mag
azines. But II 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 d girl
came rushing down the path from the
springs to tell how Black Pete had
not only held her up, but had de-
tained her In conversation for more
than an hour, every woman In the
hotel turned envlous. 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
chand's prestige.
Possibly 1t was for this reason that
Miss Marchand, walking down the val
ley instead of toward the springs, was
confronted by 1.-THE figure above
whose square cut chin appeared u
mask of black velvet that lent deeper
brilliance to n glltterlng gray eye.
"Im glad to see you this afternoon"
was the greeting. 81 rather thought I
should find you here The woods are
too crowded above, and so | came down
this way. trust that you suffered no
Ill effects from the shock OF our meet
ing yesterday"
II rather enjoyed It," admitted Olive
frankly. II really think that the other
women are envlous"
Pete smiled at recollection OF the
goodly company he had passed on his
way down the trail There was no
question about It, He motioned her to
a seat on the fallen trunk of a tree
and sat down beside her.
The girl was an eager questloner, and
presently he was reellng off stories Of
adventure with q dash that brought
the glow of excitement to Miss
Marchand's eyes. To make 1t still
"a -.
sound among the trees, and without a
word the outlaw swung himself up
into tall pine just as the sheriff and
his posse came tearing along.
They paused long enough to warn
the girl that Black Pete was supposed
to be somewhere In her vicinity aud
that It would be well for her to return
to the hotel by the trail instead of
through the woods; then they hurried
on, and Pete swung himself down
from his perch.
'"fhls Is the easiest experience I ever
had" he declared laughlngly. '"The
sheriff trusts to numbers and hard rid
Ing, with the result that have plenty
OF time to disappear when I hear him
coming"
1T must be terrible to feel that you
are hunted thing" unused Olive. with
n little shudder.
That's the joyous part" declared
the outlaw. 81 am not hunted when
the pursuit Ia in the hands OF the
sheriff. But let's forget the sheriff,
he added. 1--WE told you all about my
self. Now, turn about Is fair play"
ut would seem 80 tame after what
you have told me-" she demurred, but
she was soon deep In her subject, and
1t was not until the afternoon shadows
heightened that at last she recalled
herself and hurried up the trail toward
the hotel, where half hundred dlsap
pointed women were already gathered
upon the porch
There was not exactly an arrange
ment to meet the following afternoon
but Black Pete had said that he would
be over on "the branch" and she found
him there in the late afternoon. This
time he had removed his mask, dis
closing a face In which there was NJ
hint Of the depravity with which he
vas credited. II was an honest. manly
face, with frank, gray eyes and tan
gle Of crisp yellow curls above O
smooth white brow. With the mask
OF, only two ass swung on his hip
suggested the bad man, and while
they talked Olive forgot that she wa
In company OF a man who was out