Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-09-15

C1NF En- lNs-tSOnIlnUcC.J
Il have been a perfect brute" he ac-
knowledge frankly, with no thought
except for myself Hunger was my
master, and l ask your forgiveness.
Miss Maclaire."
Her eyes smiled.
Il am so very glad to have any one
little cOnfidence-that nothing else
greatly matters. Can you both eat,
and Jisten?"
Keith nodded. his eyes full of inter
est. searching her face.
Whoever / may be, Mr.. Keith, and
really that seems only of small i'm
portance, came to Fort Larned seek
Ing some trace Of my only brother,
whom we last heard from there, where
he had fallen into evil companionship.
On the stage trip | was fortunate
enough to form an acquaintance with
man who told me he knew where
could meet Fred, but that the boy was
hiding because Of some trouble he
had lately gotten into, and that I
oiSoAO nave W pIOCoou very
so as not to lead the officers to dis
cover his whereabouts This gentle
man was engaged in some business at
Carson City, but he employed a man
TO bring me to this place, and prom
Used to get Fred, and meet me here the
following dav. There must have been
some failure in the plans, for | have
oil
days. 1t has been very lonesome, and
and I've been little frightened
Perhaps | ought not to have come, and
| am not certain what kind of a place
this Ia. | was so afraid when you
came, but | am not afraid now"
You have no need to be-" he said
soberly, impressed by the innocent
candor of the girl. and feeling thank
fui that he was present to aid her. Il
could not wrong one of the South
My father always told me | could
trust Southern gentleman under any
circumstances. Mr.. Hawley was from
my own State and knew many of our
old friends. That was why felt such
unusual confidence in him. although
he was but travelling acquaintance"
'Mr Hawley?"
THE gentleman whom | met on the
stage"
oh, yes; you said he was in bust
ness in Carson City, but | don't seem
to remember any one OF that name"
He was not there permanently:
only to complete some business deal"
And your brother? / may possibly
have known him."
She hesitated an instant, her eyes
dropping, until completely shaded by
the long lashes.
"He-he was rather wild boy, and
ran away from home to enlist In the
army. But he got into a bad set, and
and deserted. That was part OF the
trouble which caused him to hide. He
enlisted under the name of Fred VIII.
loughby. Mr.. Hawley told me this
much, but | am afraid he did not tell
me ALL"
And he said you would meet him
here?'
Keith gazed about the bare sur
roundings wonderingly. What was
this place, hidden away In the midst
or the desert, isolated in spot where
not even Indians roamed. Could It be
secret rendezvous of crime, the
headquarters of desperadoes, of cat
tie rustlers, Of the highwaymen of the
Sante Fe Trail-a point to which they
could ride when hard pressed, GER
tain OF hiding here in safety? He be-
gan to suspect this, but, If so. who
then was this Hawley, and with what
object had he sent this girl here?
Every way he turned was to confront
mystery, to face new puzzle. What
ever she might be-even the music
nall singer he believed-she had been
taveigled here innocently enough.
Yes" she replied, The said that this
was one OF the stations of big ranch
on which Fred was employed, and that
ne would certainly be here within
day or two"
You met Hawley on the stage
coach? How did you become acQuaint-
ed!"
We were alone for nearly fifty
miles" her voice faltering slightly,
and-and he called me what you did,"
christie Maclaire?"
Yes; he-he seemed to think he
knew me, and | needed help so much
that let him believe so. / thought
II could do no harm, and then, when
found he actually knew Fred didn't
tnink OF anything else, only how for
tunate was to thus meet him. Surely
something serious must have happen
cd. or ne would have bee- here before
tnis. Do you-do you suppose there
Is anything wrong?"
Keith did not smile nor change
posture. The more he ielyed into the
matter, the more serious he felt the
situation to be. He knew all those
ranches lying south on the Canadian.
and was aware that this was no out
station. No cattle ever came across
that sandy desert unless driven nv
rustlers, and no honest purpose could
account fer this isolated hut. There
had been frequent robberies along the