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

togrsph is q peach. Just look hero,
Bill! What did l tell you? Amt
Christie dead ringer for this girl?"
You bet she is, Bart" admitted the
other In maudlin admiration, only, l
reckon. maybe some older"
| We'll, she ought to be accordn' to
| Willoughby's story, an them papers
bear him out all right, SO l reckon
he's told 1t straight-this Phyllis
would be twenty-six now, and that's
Just about what Christie Is 1t wouldn't
have At better If we had made 1t on
purpose. II the girl will only play
up to the part we won't need any 9th
err evidence-her face would be
enough"
Keith could hear the beating OF his
own heart in the silence that follow
ed. Here was a new thought new
understanding q complete new turn
to affairs. Christie Maclaire, then
was not Willoughby's sister Hope The
girl he rescued on the desert-the
girl with the pleading brown eyes,
and the soft blur OF the South on her
ups--was not the music hall singer.
He could hardly grasp the truth at
frst, 1t sntagonized so sharply with
all he had previously believed. Yet,
II this were true his own duty became
clearer than ever; aye, and would be
more willingly performed. But what
did Hawley know? Did he already
realize that the girl he had first met
on the stage coach, and later invsigled
into the desert, was Hope, and not the
music hall artist He, Of course, fully
believed her to be Christie Maclaire
at that time, but something might
have occurred since to change that be-
lief. Anyhow, the man was not now
seeking Hone hut the other. Appar
emily he latter was either already
here LII Sheridan or expected heeh,
Ana eahetly what WAS Il The gambler
desired this MaalAire WOMAN 70 DOT
This Was the important matter, and
for lis seintien Keith possessed mere.
~ a few hints. tow vuaue sugseSt iens.
She was expected 20 represent herself
a. PhylnS-~phyl!is who! Some Phyl.
liz surely whose physical resemblance
10 Hope niust be sunaaisntly marked
10 be At once noticeable. Willoughhy
Ind evidently revealed to Hawley
somo hidden family secret. having
money involved. no doubt. and In
which the discovery Of this mystert'
GUS Phyllis figured. she might, per
haps, DO q sister, or half-sister, who
had disappeared. and remained isnor
ant as to any Inheritance. Hopes
} picture shown by the boy, and re-
minding Hawley at once of Christie
Maclaire. had been the basis OF the
whole plot. Exactly what the details
OF that plot might be Keith could not
y figure out. but ono thing was reason
: ably csrtain--it was proposed to de-
fraud Hope. And who IN the very
truth was Hope? It suddenly occurred
to him as remarkably strange fac,
that he possessed not the slightest
inkling as to the girls name. Hell
brother had assumed to be called VII
loughby when he enlisted In the army
and his companions continued to cal
him this. II he could interview tbs
girl now for only Ave minutes ht
should be able probably TO straighteI
! out the whole intricate tsngle Blu
where was she7 Would she have re
|. manned until this time at Fort Larnet
with Kate Murphy
There was noise OF movement II
the next room. Apparently as Hawle,
arose carelessly from his edge OF tn,
washstaud he had dislodged the glass
which fell shivering on the floor. Scot
= swore audibly at the loss.
4 Shut up. Bill" snapped the gam
J, bier. irritated, you've got the bottl
0 left. I'm going there's nothing 70
} any OF us to do now, until after | SO
d Christie. You remain here Do 20,
t Observation-Disclosures here. Damn me
Q II that drunken fool isn't waking up.
, There was a rafting OF the ricket
r bed. and then the sound OF Willoush
by's voice. thick from liquor.
= Almighty glad to see you. Bart
2 am. indeed. Want money-Bill an
both want money-can't drink with
n out money-oant eat without money
=, shay. whom you soin' stake us7"
I'll sec you again in the morning
y Fred" returned the other briefly. 20
l. on back to sleep"
viii when l git good an ready
3 60 sleep, stay wake. Just as please
q don't care damn what yer do-ge