The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-12-21


den resentment. You think me alone
here and helpless; that you can insult
me at your pleasure. Don't go too
Tar, Mr.. Hawley. l know what you
are now, and 1t makes no difference
what you may think of me, or call me;
you'll find me perfectly able to defend
myself"
"Oh. indeed" sneeringly, you are
melodramatic; you should have been
an actress instead of a singer. But
you waste your talent out here on me.
Do you imagine l fear either you, or
your precious brother? Why, i could
have him hung tomorrow"
She was staring at him with wide
open eyes, her face white.
'What-what do you mean? What
has Fred done?"
He was cold and sarcastic.
THAT makes no difference; 1t is
what l could induce men to swear
he had done. It's easy enough to
convict in this country, if you only
know how. simply tell you this, so
you won't press me too hard. Puri-
tanism is out of place west of the Mis-
scuri, especially among ladies of your
profession. Oh, come, now, Christie,
don't try to put such airs on with me.
l know who you are, all right, and
can guess why you are hunting after
Fred Willoughby. l pumped the boy,
and got most of tie truth out of him."
"You-you have seen him, then,
since you left me-" she faltered, be-
wildered, land didn't bring him here
with your"
why should II" and the man stepped
forward, his eyes ON her, his
hands twitching with desire to clasp
her to him, yet restrained by some un-
dehnable power. while l believed
your brother story, could have play
ed the good Samaritan most beautiful
ly, but after l talked with Willoughby
l prefer him at distance"
my brother story! Do you mean
to insinuate you doubt his being my
brother? He told you that?"
He gave up the whole trick. You
can't trust kid like that, Christie. A
couple of drinks will loosen his ton
que, and put you in wrong. Come, now,
l know it all; be reasonable"
Apparently the girl had lost her
power of speech, staring blindly at the
face of the man before her, as a bird
meets the slow approach of a snake.
Keith could see her lips move, but
making no sound. Hawley evidently
interpreted her silence as hesitation,
doubt as to his real meaning
"You see where you are at now,
Christie" be went on swiftly. But
you don't need to be afraid. I'm going
to be friend to you, and you can be
mighty glad you got rid of Willoughy
SO easily. Why, l can buy you dia-
monds where he couldn't give you
calico dress. Come on, let's stop this
foolishness. / took a liking to you
back there in the sage, and the more
I've thought about you since the
crazier I've got. When succeeded in
pumping Willoughby dry, and discov-
cred you wasn't his sister at all, why
that settled the matter. l came down
here after you. l love you, do you un-
derstand that? And, what's more,
intend to have you!"
He reached out, and actually grasp
ed her, but, in some manner, she tore
loose, and sprang back around the
end of the table, her cheeks flushed,
her eyes burning.
Don't touch me! don't dare touch
mel" she painted "You lie; Fred Will
loughby never told you that. If you
come one step neaser, I'll scream; II
call your men here; I'll tell them tn,
kind of cur you are"
He laughed, leaning over toward
her, yet hesitating, his eyes full Of ad
miration Her very ferceness appealed
to him, urged him on.
ooh, wouldn't! In the first place
they probably wouldn't hear, for they
are camped down in the corral. l sus-
pected you might be something of a
tigress, and preferred to fight it out
with you alone. Then, even if they
did hear, there would be no inter
ference-I've got those fellows trained
too we'll for that. Come on, Christie:
you're helpless mere.
"Am II"
Eyes, you are
He took step toward her, his hands
flung out. With one quick movement
she sprang aside and extinguished the
lamp, plunging the room into instant
darkness. A few red Goals glowed
DULY in the fireplace, but all else was
dense blackness. Keith heard the
movements of Hawley, as he felt his
was uncertainty along the table,
swearing as he failed to find the girl
Then, like shadow, he glided through
the partly open door into the room