Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-10-19

~ all the easier for you. tell you
,his Is the sheriff, and we've got you
Doth dead to rights"
But" she urged why should | De
arrested? have done nothing
You're an adventuress-a damn
adv MISUNDERSTANDING mistress, PROB
ably--a-"
Now, see here. Waite" and Fair
balm swung himself forward, you
drop that. Miss Maclaire is my friend'
and II you say another word III smash
you, sheriff or no sheriff
Waite glared at him.
You old fool" he snorted. what
nave you got to do with this?
I've got this to do with, you'll find
the woman is to be treated with re-
spect or I'll blow your damned OBJ
stinate head Off"
The sheriff laid his hand on Waites
shoulder
Come" he said, firmly. this Is no
way to get at 1t. We want to know
certain facts and then we can pro-
coed lawfully. Let me question the
woman"
The two older men still faced one
another bellgerently, but Keith saw
Christie draw the doctor back from
between her and the sheriff.
you may ask me anything you
/ please she announced, quietly. Il
an sure these gentlemen will not fight
in my room"
Very we'll, Miss Maclaire. 1t will
require only a moment. How long
have YOU known this man Hawley?'
Merely few days-since I arrived
in Sheridan"
Put you were in communication
with him before that"
The pleasant voice and quiet de-
meanor of the sheriff seemed to yield
the girl confidence and courage.
Yes, he had written me two or
three letters"
You met him here then by appoint
ment?"
He WIS to come to Sheridan, and
explain to me more fully what his let.
tiers had only limited at"
You possessed no previous lnowl-
edge of his purposc?"
were given me later"
viii you tell US briefly exactly
what Ha gley told you?'
The girls bewi!dered eyes wandered
from face to face, then returned to
the waiting sheriff.
"MayAmay | sit down." she asked.
Most certainly; and don't be afraid,
rnr i-h to Ir,, crtr I,'
She sank down into the chair, and
even Keith could see how her slender
form trembled There was a mo-
nent's silence.
Believe me. gentlemen" she began,
falteringly, eff there Is any fraud, any
conspiracy. | have borne no conscious
part in It. Mr. Hawley came to me
saying a dying man had left with him
certain papers, naming one, Phyllis
Gale, as heiress to a very large estate
i'm North Carolina, left by her grand.
father in trust. He said the girl had
been taken West, when scarcely two
| years old, by her father in fit Of
drunken rage, and then deserted by
him In st. Louis"
broke in.
Yes, those that Hawley had he
gave them TO me to keep for him."
She crossed to her trunk, and came
back. a MANILA envelope In her hand.
Waite opened il hastily, running his
eyes over the contents.
The Internal scoundrel!" he ex-
claimed holly, These were stolen
from me at Carson City"
Let me sec them" The sheriff
ran them over merely glancing at the
endorsements.
Just as you represented, Waite"
be said. slowly. "A copy of the will,
your commission as guardian, anh
memoranda OF Identification. Well,
Miss Maclaire, how did you happen to
be so easily convinced that you were
the lost girl?"
Mr.. Hawley brought me a picture
which he said was Of this girls half
sister; the resemblance was most
startling. This. with the fact that
have never known either father or
mother or my real name, and that my
earlier life was passed in St. Louis,
suticed to make me believe he must
be right"
/ "lou-you-" Waite choked. lean
Ing forward you don't know your
real nance"
/ No, DO not" her lips barely form
Ing the WORDS. The woman who
brought me up never told me-
w hO-Who was the WOmanT"