Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-12-27
CHAPTER xx,Il.-(contlnued,)

s Keith's eyes lifted to her face. his
. ears quick to detect the undertone
Il In her voice.
Undressing? yes. for was seeking
after information, and met with some
u success AS to the other question. :
II am not sure whether admire the laoy
ii or not. She is bright. pretty. ana
"a comps Mons able, and in spite OF her
4 profession. at heart, l believe. gooo
81 woman. But really. Miss Hope. was
i too deeply immersed In my purpose
81 to give her personality much consla-
q Grafton. Among other things we spoAe
gof YOU
"Of me? why?" I.
Il told her something OF our az
\ ventures together; Of how both nav
ley and had been confused. she was
Il anxious to learn who you were. out
Il unfortunately. | have never. even YET
y heard your name.
.You nave not?"
mo; II left you at Fort 4>arneo pc
n Iieying you Christie Maclaire-sup-
posing 1t your stage name. OF course
q and was confirmed in this belief ny
f,ndine in the holster OF the saddle
Won had been riding an envelope bear
/ ing that address.
Fl remember; it contained the note
\ the man brought to me from HaWIey'
he had written 1t that way. she
\ crossed the room. sinking down into
+ chair facing him. And you have
actually confused me with Chrlsue
Maclaire all this while: Have never
81 known who i was z"
He shook his head.
I. Il told you to call me Hope; that Is
u my name-I am Hope Waite"
,'Waite!" he leaned forward. star
II tied By the sibility--."'n ot---not----'"'
yes" she burst in. holding out her
u hands. clasping the locket. land this
was my fathers: where did you get
/ it?''
81 5 He took the trinket from her. turn
ling 1t over in his fingers. Little by lit
tie the threads Of mystery were be-
ing unraveled. yet. even now. he could
not see very far. He looked up from
the locket into her questioning face.
Ibid / not tell you? No: then 1t
was an oversight This was about the
throat OF one Of the men buried at
Cimmaron Crossing. but-but. Hope.
1t was not your father.
II know" her voice choking slight.
q ~ Mrs. Murphy found that out:
4 that Is why am here. | heard my
father came to Sheridan. and wanted
you to help me find him.
# He was thinking and did not answer
y at once. and she went on in some
alarm.
do you know anything about him.
Captain Keith? Where Is he? Why
1s he here? Don't be afraid to tell
me-"
He pressed the locket back into her
/ hand, retaining the latter. unresisted.
within his own.
Il nave not seen your father. Hope,
but he was certainly here few days
ago. for Fairbain met him. They were
together in the army. am going to
tell you all know-it seems to be a
tangled web. but the ends must be
A somewhere. although. ! confess, am
all at sea"
He told 1t slowly and simply, bring
ing forth his earlier suspicion, and
how he had stumbled upon facts APP
Il parently confirming them. He related
her fathers robbery, his loss OF vaiu-
able papers. and the conversation be-
tween Hawley and Scott which led to
the suspicion that these same pa.
pers had fallen into the hands
+ of the former. and were the
basis OF his plot. Hope listened,
GREATNESS with interest, her widely
opened eyes filled with wonder. AS
! he concluded speaking she burst
forth:
But don't understand in the least.
Captain Keith. Why did this man
4 Hawley send me to the Salt Fork?"
HE thought he was dealing with
Christie Maclaire. He had some rea-
y son for getting her away; getting her
where he could exercise influence over
her"
'Yes-yes: but who is she?"
That Is what makes the matter SO
hard to unravel. She doesn't even
know herself. Hawley is going to
take advantage OF her ignorance in
this respect. and convince her that
she Is the person he wishes her to
represent-but who is the person? II
we knew that we might block the
game"