Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-12-22

| of that interview there could be little
doubt. Providing the gambler pos
sessed the proper papers he wouk
have small difficulty in convincing the
| girl that she was indeed the ont
| sought Keith had probed sufficiently
| into her mind to feel assured that hel
| inclination was to side with Hawley
| Under all the circumstances this was
natural enough, and he did not blame
her
He glanced into the bar-room as hi
/ passed. not in any anticipation, bul
merely from the vigilance which be
comes second nature upon the from
tier. Hawley stood leaning against
| the bar, where he could see any on<
passing through the hall. The eyes
of the two men met, but the gamble,
never moved, never changed his at
titude, although Keith noted that his
right hand was hidden beneath the
skirts of his long coat. The plains
man drew back, facing his enemy, un
til he reached the outer door. There
was a sheer on Hawley's dark SIMS
ter face like an invitation, but mem
DRY of the girl he had just left, an6
her dependence upon him, caused
Keith to avoid an encounter. He
would fight this affair out in differ
ent way AS the door opened and he
slipped forth into the gloom, he brush
ed against man apparently just en-
tering. The CLEAN Of light fell for ar
| instant upon the face of the other-it
vas Scotty with the red moustache.
They had been watching for him
then-what for? Hawley on the In
side, and this man Scott without, were
waiting to determine when he left
the hotel; would probably dog his
footsteps to discover where he went
Keith loosened his revolver, SO as to
be assured he could draw quickly, and
slipped back into the shadow of the
steps, his eyes On the door of the
hotel There was cold, drizzly rain
falling, the streets almost deserted.
appearing sodden and miserable
where the lights shone forth through
saloon windows. One or two men,
seeking supper, coat collars turned up
/ and hats drawn low over their eyes.
climbed the rickety steps and went in.
but no one came out. Perhaps he
was mistaken as to the purpose OF
those fellows; they may have desired
merely to know when he left, or
SCOTS return just at that moment
might have been an accident. To be
sure the hotel possessed a back exit.
but he could not cover both ends OF
the building, and must take his
chances It was too wet and disagree
able to remain crouched there, now
that it was evident there was no in
tention of following him. With hand
on the butt of his gun, suspicious and
watchful, yet with scarcely faster
beat to his heart, Keith Strengthened
up, and began splashing his way
knew where Willoughby would be
most likely found at this hour-with
cronies at the "Tenderfoot" he
meant to discover the boy, and make
him confess to Hope the truth. Mat
tiers had now reached point where
/ longer delay was dangerous.
Sheridan was seemingly dead the
long street silent, gloomy, black, ex-
cent for those streams of saloon light
shining across pools of water. A few
wanderers ploughed through the muck
/ dim uncertain shapes appearing and
vanishing in the gloom. He had gone
a block and over, the struggle against
the elements leaving him fOrgetful OF
all else, when man reeled out OF
some dimly lit shack to his right, and
staggered drunkenly forward a few
| feet in advance He could barely dis
tinguish the fellows's outlines. giving
little thought to the occurrence. for
the way was unusually black along
there. the saloon opposite having
shades drawn. Suddenly flash OF
red fire spurted into the night, with
sharp report. 1t was SO close at hand
it blinded him, and he flung up one
arm over his eyes. and yet, in that
single instant, he perceived the whole
picture as revealed by the red name
He saw the man In front go down IN
| a heap, the projection of the building
from behind which the shot came. the
| end of a wagon, sticking forth into the
street which had concealed the as
sassin. The binding fash. the shock
of that Sudden discharge. for mo-
| ment held him motionless; then ne
| leaped forward. revolver in hand.
sprang around the end of the wagon.
and rushed down the dark alley be-
tween two buildings. He could see
| nothing, but some enc was running
recklessly ahead of him, and he fired
in the direction of the sound. the
leaping squirt of fame yielding dim
outline of the fugitive Three times
he pressed the trigger; then there
was nothing to shoot at-the fellow
had faded away into the black vo1c
of prairie Keith stood there banned.
staring about into the gloom the
smoking revolver in his hand The
sound Of mems voices behind was all
that reached him. and feeling the use