Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-11-08
CHAPTER xviil-tc on.,nued.>

49, . 3
Just little carelessly: but what
! sort OF . trick could he be working LllE
\ trying to make you acknowledge
Christie Maciaire Is your sister
Willoughbys did not answer. shifting
uneasily about on the bed. Keith
waited. and 1t last the boy blurted
out: s
''oh, 1t wasn't nothing much. told
him something when was drunk
once. that | thought maybe might
have stuck to him. Odd he should
make that mistake. too. for showed
him Hopes picture Bart's schemer.
and i didn't know but what he might
have figured out a trick. though |
don't see how he could. It wasn't no
more than q pipe dream. reckon.
Where did you meet Hope? Back in
Missouri 5
.Oh. I've known her some time. Not
long ago L did her . service for which
she Is grateful Did you know she
was out in this country searching for
your si55
'''Out here! In Kansas? 2.
Sure: that isn't much of trip
for spirited girl She got It in her
/ head from your letters that you were
In trouble. and set out to find you
and bring you home. She didn't tell
me this. but that Is the way, ] heard It.
1t was for her sake came in here.
Why not -go to her. Willoughby. and
then both OF yod return to Missouri!
The suIlenness had gone out OF the
boys face: he looked tired. discour-
aged.
Where is Hope!" he asked.
Fort Larned, suppose. She went
to Carson City first"
W. ell. that settles It," shaking his
head. you don't suppose l could 60
browsins round Larned. and not get
snapped up. do you? They don't chase
deserters very far out here. but that's
the. post ! skipped from. and they'd
! jug me all right Besides. I'm damned
II III 60 back until l get a stake.
want to see a fellow first"
What fellow 2"
wen. It's Hawiey, II you want to
know 90 bad. He said II l would come
here and wait for him he'd put me on
to a good thing.
Was there deeply laid plot back Of
all these preparations involving both
Willoughby and his sister? What
was 1t Hawley was scheming about so
carefully. holding this boy deserter
IN one hand. while he reached out the
other after Christie Maclaire? Surely.
the man was not working blindly: he
must have purpose in view. VIII
toughby had acknowledged he had told
the fellow something once when he
was drunk-about his family history.
no doubt. for he had shown him
Hopes picture. What that family
secret was Keith had no means Of
guessing but Hawley. the moment he
saw the face on the cardboard. had
evidently recognized Christie Maclaire
had thought OF some way in which
what he now knew could be turned
TO advantage. The few scattered facts
which Keith had collected all seemed
to point 10 such OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
had sent the boy to Sheridan. where.
! he would be out OF sight. with orders
to wait for him there, and the prom.
Use OF . stake to keep him quiet.
( Then he had gone to independence
and Topeka seeking after Christie
Maclaire. Evidently he meant to keep
the two apart until he had gained
from each whatever 1t was he
sought. But what could that bey
What family secret could Willoughby
have blurted out In his cups. which
had 50 stimulated the gamblers wits?
Two things combined to cause
Keith to determine he would uncover
this rascality-his desire to- repay
Hawley. and his interest In the girl
rescued on the Salt Fork. This gossa.
{ mer web of intrigue into which he had
stumbled unwittingly was nothing to
him personally; had 1t not involved
y both Hawley and Miss Hope, he would
have left 1t unsolved without another
thought. But under the circumstances
1t became his own battle. There was
q crime here-hidden a. yet, and
probably not consummated-involvlnE
girl. He would dig into this until ne
wrong. perhaps disgrace. to the young
uncovered the truth; he would ind
out what dirty trick Black Bart" was
up to.
AS he thought this out, not swiftly
AS recorded. but slowly. deliberately.
piecing the bits together within bis
mind. bIindly feeling his way to
final conclusion. the boy had sunk
+ back upon the bed, overcome with
liquor. and fallen asleep. Keith
stepped over. and looked down upon
him in the dim light. He could recog-
nize something OF her features in the
upturned face. and his eyes softened.
There was no use seeking again to