Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-21
CHAPTER XVIII.
interviewing WilIounhby.

interviewing Willoughby.
Coolly. yet without in the least
comprehendng how best to proceed.
Keith drew toward him the only chair
In the room, and sat down. Miss
Hope-more widely known as Christie
Maclaire-had claimed this drunken
lad as her brother, but, according to
Hawley, he had vehemently denied
any such relationship. Yet there must
be some previous association between
the two, and what this was the plains
man proposed to discover. The prob
lem was how best to cause the fellow
to talk frankly-could he be reached
more easily by reference to the girl
or the gambler? Keith studying the
sullen, obstinate face confronting
him, with instructive antagonism over
his intrusion, swiftly determined on
the girl
1T was not very nice of me to come
IN on you this way" he began, apollo
getically, but you see l happened to
know your sister"
MY sister? Oh, guess not!"
Yes, but I do" throwing con-
fdence into his tone he was far from
feeling. Miss Hope and are friends"
The boy sprang to his feet, his face
flushed.
"Oh. you mean Hope Do you know
her? Say, thought you were giving
me that old gag about Christie
Maclaire"
Certainly not; who is she?"
That's more than l know; fellow
came to me at Carson. and said he'd
met my sister on a stage west Of To
peka. I knew he was lyin'. because
she's home over in Missouri Finally,
got 1t out of him that she claimed 10
be my sister but her name was
Maclaire, Why. l don't even know
her, and what do you suppose she
ever picked me out for her brother
FORE"
He was plainly puzzled, and perfect
]y convinced it was all a mistake.
That his sister might have left home
since he did, and drifted West under
an assumed name, apparently Lever
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 like
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 Macaire girl was your sis
ter
The suggestion caused him to laugN
at first; then his face suddenly sob
cred as though a new thought had oc
Cured to him.
Damn me, no, It couldn't be that.
he exclaimed. one hand pressing hi!
head. He couldn't be workin NJ
trick OF that kind on me-"
Whom do you mean"
"a fellow named Hawley," evasive
ly. The man who claimed to have
met my sister"
"'Black Bart Hawley?"
The boy lifted his head again, HI,
eyes filled with suspicion.
Yes, if you must know; he's
rambler ali right but he's stuck &
he wheh ! ~as ae#a aAa sat. We
knew bifn?@
'JHst little" eareiessiyj nut vAh
seFt ef trick eeuid he be WefAih
tryins ia mahe seA aeAAewieds
Christie Maeialre ns yeAs sistest"
WnleHshby aid not ahswee, shiftis
tneaeily about on the bed. Felt
waited, ara ut iaat the hey biarte
Quit
"Sh, Il want nothing much. tol
him something when waa drum
once, that thought maybe mist
have stuck to HIM Odd ne sho9l
make that mistake, too. for ! shove
him Hopes picture, ner's a sehemo
and didn't know but what he migl
have figured out trick, though
dent sse how he could, II wasn't r
more than pipe dream. reckon
Whore did you meet Hopo' BACK
Missouri"
One thing was clearly evtdent--tt
boy's faith In his sister II he WI
20 be rightly Influenced. and led BAG
10 her, no must have no suepicic
aroused that her lifo was any dine
ent from what It had boon before
left homo. Besides II Keith hoped
uain any inkling OF what Hawley
purpose could be. no must win Il
confidence Of Willoughby. This cou
not be done by telling him of Hope
present lifo. These consideration
flashed through his mind, and as swf'
~ determined his answer.
"Oh, I've known her some time N
long ago did her service for whi'
Bhe La grateful, Did you know 81