The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-12-28
(Copyright, A. c. Ncolurg 4 Co.. 1900

But you said it didn't make any
difference what l called you"
Il though it didn't then. but it does
uow."
"Oh, see; we are already on new
footing. Yet / must call you some
thing"
She hesitated just long enough for
him to notice it Either she had No
substitute ready at hand. or else doubt
ed the advisability of confiding her
real name under present circumstances
to one SO nearly a stranger.
you may call me Hope"
"A name certainly of good omen,'
he returned. From this moment ]
shall forget Christie Maclaire, and re
member only Miss Hope. All right
Neb; now turn over a chair, and sill
your man up against it He will resi-
all the easier in that position until his
gang arrives"
He thrust his head out of the door
peering cautiously forth into the night
and listening. A single horse, prob
ably the one Hawley had been riding
was tied to a dwarfed cottonwood near
the corner of the cabin. Nothing else
living was visible.
Il am going to round up our horses
and learn the condition of Hawley's
outfit" he announced in q low voice
Il may be gone for fifteen or twenty
minutes, and, meanwhile, Miss Hope
get ready for long ride. Neb, stand
here close beside the door, and il any
one tries to come in brain him with
your gun-stock. I'll rap three times
when l return"
He slipped out into the silent night
and crept cautiously around the end
Of the dark cabin. The distinct change
in the girls attitude Of friendship to
ward him, her every evident desire
that he should think well of her to
gether with the providential opportu
nifty for escape, had left him full OF
confidence. The gambler had played
blindly into their hands, and Keith
was quick enough to accept the ad
vantage. 1t was a risk to himself, to
be sure, thus turning again to the
northward, yet the clear duty he owed
the girl left such choice almost i'm.
perative. He certainly could not drag
her along with him on his flight into
the wild Comanche country extend.
ing beyond the Canadian She must,
at the very least, be first returned to
the protection of the standardization
along the Arkansas. After that had
been accomplished, he would consider
his own safety. He wondered If Hope
really was her name, and whether it
was the family cognomen, or her given
name. That she was Christie Maclaire
he had no question, yet that artistic
establishment was probably merely
assumed for the work of the concert
hall. Both he and Hawley could
scarcely be mistaken as to her identi-
ty In this respect, and, indeed, she had
never openly denied the fact. Yet she
did not at all seem to be that kind,
and Keith mentally contrasted her
with numerous others whom he had
somewhat intimately known along the
border circuit. 1t was difficult to as.
sociate her with that class; she must
have come originally from some excel
lent family East, and been driven to
the life by necessity; she was more to
be pitied than blamed. Keith held no
pur1tanical views of life-his own ex-
periences had been too rough and
democratic for that-yet he chung te-
naciOusly to an ideal of womanhood
which could not be lowered However
interested he might otherwise feel,
no Christie Maclaire could ever find
entrance into the deeps of his heart,
where dwelt alone the memory of his
mother.
He found the other horses turned
into the corral, and was able, from
their restless movements, to decide
they numbered eight A fire, nearly
extinguished, glowed duly at the
farther corner of the enclosure, and
he crawled close enough to distinguish
the recumbent forms of men sleeping
about 1t on the ground Apparently
no guard had been set, the fellows be-
Ing worn out from their long ride, and
confident of safety in this isolated
spot. Besides, Hawley had probably
assumed that duty, and told them to
get whatever sleep they could How
ever, the gate of the corral opened be-
side their fire, and Keith dare not
venture upon roping any of their
ponies. or leading them out past
where they slept. There might
be clippers In the cabin with which he
could cut the wires, yet If one of the
gang awoke, and discovered the herd
absent, 1t would result In an alarm,
and lead to early pursuit. It was far
safer to use their own ponies. He
would lead Hawley's horse quietly
Through the water. and they could
mount on the other shore. This plan
settled, he went at it swiftly, riding
mo captured animal while rounding
mp the others, and fastening the three
10 stunted trees on the opposite bank.
Everything within the cabin remained
exactly as he had left it, and he briefly
explained the situation. examing Haw-.
aey's bonds again carefully while do
Ing 50.
He'll remain there all right until
his men find him." he declared, posi-
lively. ..and that ought to give us q