The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-12

W.
Keith Backed Into the cerner-His
Hand In His Pocket.
upon me here in Sheridan during my
engagement Is that your mission!
Were you cent by him? or are you Mr..
Hawleyr
Il disclaim all relation. Miss Mao.
laire. even friendship. You. of course,
know who this individual Isl"
NO." the short monosyllable was
not encouraging. His messages were
OF business character"
80 l presumed, yet one likes to
know something even Of the person he
does business with I have been &C
Quainted with Hawley for several
years. and have never been aware OF
any honorable business he has ever
engaged In He is professional
gambler. known ON the frontier a.
Black Bart last night he was run.
ming a faro game across there In the
Palace cannot help wondering
what kind Of business such q fellow
could possibly have with you, Miss
Maclaire>"
The woman's eyes flashed. harden.
Ing In their brown depths.
What right have you to ask?" she
began indignantly. 81 am capable OF
deciding my own affairs AS I have
told you have never met Mr.. Haw-
Icy. bat l am not 70 be Influenced
against him merely by the denuncia-
don OF en avowed enemy. He has
written mo Of something be has dis
covered which IL OF deep personal in
terest TO me. and has promised to tell
me Tho details, - we'll 90 place within
my lands certain necessary papers."
7 appreciate your fealings," he said
sently. a. she paused. but would you
mind telling me- the nature OF those
paps1r"
There was something IN Xetth's
fsce which told of honesty. and In
spirsd conndsnoa Miss Maalaire's
worldly experience had given her deep
insight into the character Of men, and
somehow. - she looked into the clear
gray eyss. abe felt impelled To answer.
. vogue doubt Of The unknown Hav.
ley In her mind.
They-thsy were papers to estab.
lish Identity. He had discovered them
BY accident: they have to do with an
Inheritance Really that 10 an I know.
Tor he wrote very briefly, stating II
would be safer 70 confer with me
psrsooally-onlyI I tmagins thsr> y q
large sum involved
Prom whose estates"
my grandfathers."
And his name vssr'
Why-vhy, Mr.. Ksith, actually I
Do not know. II may seem strange.
brt-but I cannot even tell the names
f my parents; cannot remember
either my father or mother. Oh, I do
nee know why I should ell you ali
thisl Who are you. really? Why do
you ask mo such Quoot1ouSr
He leaned forward. touched by She
veman's emotion
Miss Maclairs," hs said gravefy. Il
an not prytng into your life needless
~. but am endeavoTtng to serve you
- we'll az others. Hswiey may In
DEED possess papers Of great value,
but 90 they we're not found by &C.
cfdent. but stolen from the body Of q
murdered man. Thsse papers may
possibly refer to you. but II 20 Haw-
ley himself does not believe ft--hs
has simply chosen you to impsrsonats
the rtSht party because Of your phys
tcal resemblance
Resemblance to vhomr
To young woman. a Miss Hope"
But how do you know this? Why
should you be Interested! Are you a
detcctive,'
No. | am not a detective, but I
cannot explain TO you my interest I
Am trying 10 serve You. 70 keep you
from being drawn into a plot"
Rather 10 keep me from learning
The truth. Mr. Jack Keith" she burst
forth. rising TO her feet Indignantly.
"fou are here trying TO prejudice me
against Mr. Hswley. He Is your enc
my. and you have come TO me stab
bns him In the back for revenge.
That 10 your interest Well l am 20
ing TO see the man. and consider what
ne has TO say. don't care half 10
much about the money as I do 10 find
Out who l am II he can throw any
Light on my early li'c. on my parent.
age, ! shall be the happiest woman
In the world. am sorry | told you
anything-but | am going 20 see him
A...s