River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-09-07
CHAPTER Ix.-(continued.)

CHAPTER IX.-(continued.)
81 have been 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
here-any one-in whom l feel even
a little confidence-that nothing else
greatly matters. Can you both eat,
and listen?"
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
porrance, l 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 |
should have to proceed very carefully
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 day. There must have been
some failure In the plans, for | have
been here entirely alone now for three
days IT. has been very lonesome, and
and I've been a little frightened.
Perhaps ought not to have come, and
/ am not certain what kind of place
this is. | was SO afraid when you
came, but l am not afraid now"
You have no need to be-" he said
soberly, impressed by the innocent
candor of the girl and feeling thank
full that he was present to aid her. Il
could not wrong one of the South"
My father always told me | could
trust a 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
ne was but a travelling acquaintance"
"Mr. Hawley?"
THE gentleman whom l met on the
stage"
"Oh, yes; you said he was in busi-
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? l may possibly
have known him.
She hesitated an instant, her eyes
dropping, until completely shaded by
the long lashes.
"He-he was rather a wild boy, and
ran away from home to enlist In the
army. But he got into bad set, and
and deserted. That was part of the
trouble which caused him to hide He
enlisted under the name of Fred Will
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
of the desert, isolated in spot where
not even Indians roamed Could it be
q 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
~ o
Every way he turned was to confront
mystery, to face new puzzle. What
ever she might be-even the music
hall singer he believed-she had been
Inveigled 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
he would certainly be here within a
day or two"
You met Hawley on the stage
coach? How did you become acquaint-
ed?"
I'VE were alone for nearly fifty
miles" her voice faltering slightly.
''and-and he called me WHIT you did"
Christie Maclaire?"
Yes; he-he seemed to think he
hIlSW ulS, anu nCSuSu AS1p 81 nuCn
that l let him believe so. l thought
it could do no harm, and then. when
I found he actually knew Fred, didn't
think of anything else, only how for
tunate l was to thus meet him. Surely
something serious must have happen
ed. or he would have been here before
this. Do you-do you suppose there
is anything wrong?"
Keith did not smile nor change
posture. The more he delved 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 by
rustlers. and no honest purpose could
account for this isolated hut. There
lad keen frequent rohberies along the