The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-09

- "oo ncl very nice OF me 10 come
IN on you this way" he began. apollo
gedcally, but you see l happened to
know your sister,
My sister? Oh, g-ess mott"
Yes, but | do" throwing con.
hdence into his tone he was far from
feeling. Miss Hope and are friends"
The boy sprang 10 his feet, his face
flushed.
"Oh. you mean Hope? Do you know
her! Say. thought you were giving
me that old gag about Christie
Maclsire"
Certainly not; who Is she!"
That's more than know; fellow
came to me at Carson, and said he'd
met my sister on a stage west of To
peka. | knew be vas lyin', because
she's home over In Missouri Finally,
l got 1t out OF him that she claimed to
be my sister, but her name was
Maclaire. Why. don't even know
her. and what do you suppose she
ever picked me out for her brother
for?"
He was plainly puzzled, and perfect
ly convinced II was all q mistake.
That his sister might have left home
since he did, and drifted West under
an assumed name, apparently never
occurred to him as possible. To Keith
this was the explanation. and nothing
could be more natural, considering
her work. yet he did not feel ike
shattering the lads loyalty. Faith In
the sister might yet save him.
Perhaps the fellow who told you,"
he hazarded blindly, speaking the first
thought which came to his mind, had
some reason to desire to make you
think this Maclaire girl was your sis
ter"
The suggestion caused him to laugh
at first: then his face suddenly sob
cred. as though a new thought had oc-
CURED 10 him.
Damn me. no, II couldn't be that"
be exclaimed. one hand pressing his
head. He couldn't be workin nc
trick of that kind OF me-"
Whom DO you mean9"
"A fellow named Hewley," evasivn-
ly. The man who claimed to hav,
met NJ sister"
"'Black Bart Hawley?"
The hoy lifted his head again, his
eyes filled with suspicion
Yes. f you must know; he's q
gambler al right, but he's stuck to
ne when I was down and out You
know him9"
Just little" carelessiy: but what
sort Of a trick could he BE- working
trying TO make you acknowledge
Christie Maclaire as your sister,"
Willoughby did not answer, shifting
uneasily about on the bed. Keith
waited, and at last the boy blurted
out
oh, 1t wasn't nothing much. | told
him something when I was drunk
once. that | thought maybe might
have stuck to him Odd he should
make that mistake, too, for showed
him Hopes picture PARTS q schemer,
and | didn't know but what he might
have figured out q trick. though |
don't see how he could 1t wasn't no
more than a pipe dream, reckon.
Where did you meet Hope? Back In
Missouri
One thing was clearly evi6ent-the
boys faith in his sister If he was
TO be rightly Influenced, and led back
to her, he must have no suspicion
aroused that her life was any differ
ent from what II had been before he
left home Besides IL Keith hoped to
gain any inkling Of what Haw,ey's
purpose could be, he must win the
confidence Of Willoughby. This could
not be done by telling him of Hopes
present life. These considerations
flashed through his mind. and as swift
ly determined his answer.
"Oh. I've known her some time. Not
long ago | did her a service for which
she is grateful Did you know she
was out in this country searching for
you?"
Out here? In Kansas
Sure; that isn't much of a trip
for spirited girl She got &c IN her
head from your letters that you were
In trouble, and set out to find you
o-AA aH6 yOI AOluC. Que Oluu lctl
me this, but that is the way heard 1t.
1t was for her sake I came in here.
Why not go to her, Willoughby, and
then both Of you return to Missouri"
The suIlenness had gone out or the
boys face; he looked tired, discour~
aged.
Where is Hope?" he asked
Fort Larned. suppose. She went
to Carson City first"
Well, that settles It" shaking his
head. You don't suppose could go
browsin round Larned, and not get
snapped up, do you? They don't chase
deserters very far out here. but that's
the post I skipped from, and they'd
jug me all right Besides. I'm damned
II III go back until get a stake.
want 10 see a fellow first"
What fellow"
We'll it'S Hawtay tp vou uoDt 30