Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-10-12

HunB MIN backward ana dragged MIN
into the empty tent, kneeling on him
az he throttled him to the earth.
Now, Doctor, you listen to me-" he
said sternly I'm through arguing.
hate to treat you like this, for you are
my friend, but III not stand for inter-
ference here. Do you get that You
old fool? Lie still until get through
! respect your feelings toward Miss
Maclaire. She is a good girl, and
hope to heaven you get her If you
want hcr But you never will II you
permit this affair to go on. Yes, 1
know what am talking about. In all
that Hope and DO VIC are serving you
and Christie-our only fight is with
Black Bart Hawley. Stop being u
bulet-headed old fool, Fairbain. and
understand this thing. Lie still, tell
you. and hear me out! Hawley Is
liar, q thief and a swindler There
is a swindle in this thing somewhere,
and he hopes to pull out big sum Of
money from 1t. Tie is merely using
Christie to pull his own chestnuts out
Of the fire She Is innocent; we real
ize that, but this fellow IS going TO
b
posing him. He's not only involving
her in his criminal conspiracy, but
he's making love to her; he's teaching
her to love him. That's part OF his
scheme, no doubt, for then she will be
90 much easier handled tell you.
Tairbain, your only chance to ever
win the interest OF Christie Macleire
Is to help us down this fellow Haw-
icy. Yes, you can sit up; / reckon
you're beginning to see clearer. amt
youP"
Keith drew aside the flap OF the
tent to glance without, the light fall
ing on Fairbanks face as he struggled
to a sitting posture. He had had
new thought driven into him, yet
failed to entirely grasp its signih-
canoe
But, Jack" he asked, still half
, angry. how about the girl? Hasn't
she any right to this money!"
81 don't know" honestly. we don't
any of us know. but whatever she has
the right to she IS going TO get. You
, can bet on that. old man We're buck
, ing Hawley. not Christie Maciaire-
get that into your head He hasn't any
right that's certain, for he murdered
and stole to get the papers-be quiet!
, Here the fellow comes now"
, They peerod out together through
the convenient tent flap, Fairbain
, scarcely less interested than the 9TH
er. already dimly compromising that
his truly dangerous rival was tho
gambler. and that he could best serve
> the lady by helping to prove to her
> the real character Of that individual.
, He was still blindly cropping in the
, haze. yet out OF Keith's sharp, sting
, Ing words there had come to him a
guiding light. The latter gripped his
{ arm In restraint.
: Easy. Old man, easy--let him
Y pass"
! Iawley turned into the alley whis'
ting, evidently we'll pleased with the
9 situation and anticipating other de
n lights awaiting his coming The glow
| of the Trocaderos lights served, ar
, instant, TO reveal his face. shaded by
+ the broad brim of his hat, and then
f he vanished into the dark. Keith lean
Q ing fnr ont. yet keeping well within
. the shadows, heard the faint creak OF
n the vostibule door and the soft muir
muir of distant voices. Then he drew
- back suddenly, his hand again grasp
g ing Fairbain. Two fgures-those OF
man and woman-emerged into the
y dim light, and as quickly disappeared.
q Apparently her hand WAS upon his
a arm. and he was bending down SO
~ ha
r TALLY concealed by the folds OF the
o mantilla Only a word or two reached
q them. a little laugh and the woman'e
voice
Is Why. of course l hurried, you saic
s you had something OF such Importance
It TO tell me-
q "Fairbain." spoke Keith, his lips al
e most at the ear of the other. That
was Hope. all right, and she has got
- him going already. Now, man. will
" you help us OUT"
az? How"
l.. Go back there. and meet Miss
" Maclaire don't care where you take
y, hor-unch, anywhere; only keep her
from the hote. as long as possible
Ne Ycu can 90 IT far better than |, for
-, she will not suspect you Of any inter
est in this affair. Tell her any lie you
~ can think up on account oi HawIey's
- absence Good Lord, old man, can't
"a YOU see this is your chance; go IN
&c and win
- rairbaln struggled to his feet, still a
-, biz dazed and uncertain, yet tempted
~ by the opportunity.
ID You're perfectly sure, Keith, this
"a ISM ouythlrg that Will hurt the girl?'
"A CO., ro' ~ course I am. rs Just
~ Hawley I'm cunning after. For Gods
n. sake, haven't you got that clear YETI
- II reckon I'm an Old fool, Jack,
admitted the Doctor reGreuully, and
when an ola ioo, is in love he hash
=, got any sense left Anyhow I'll &c
what you want me to now, Where are
:. YOU gcing?'
:, ITO watch those others There is
-, no knowing what play Hawley might
=. try to pull off, and want TO keel
~ within gun-shot OF him. Hurry UP
man: that vestibule door creaked jus
then"
NJ lie showed him down the dark ale!
w. and dodged back himself across tn
er front OF the tent out into the street
nv - In, fro a