Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-10-25
CHAPTER xI.-(Continued.0

The action has only really begun"
he assured her. I'll retaining his hold
upon her hand. This was merely a
preliminary skirmish. and you must
prepare to bear your part in what
follows. we have settled MIR. Hawlcy
for the present, and now must deal
with his gang"
"Oh. what would have done IL you
bad not been here?"
Let us not think about that: we
were here. and now have busy night
before us IL we get away safely. Give
me the rope first. Good! Here. Neb.
you must know how to use this-not
too tight but without leaving any play
10 the arms; take the knife out OF his
belt. Now for the cloth, Miss
Maclaire."
Please do not call me that"
But you said it didn't make any
difference what | called you.
Il thought it didn't then, but it does
now"
oh. see; we are already on a new
footing. Yet l must call you some
thing"
She hesitated just long enough for
aim to notice it. Either she had no
substitute ready at hand, or else doubt
ed the ACCESSIBILITY of conddinE her
real name under present circumstances
10 one so nearly a stranger.
You may call me Hope
A name certainly Of good omen,"
he returned. From this moment
shall forget Christie Maclairc and re-
member only Miss Hope All right.
Ann
your man up against it, He will rest
all the easier in that position until his
gang arrives"
He thrust his head out of the door
peering cautiously forth into the night
and listening A single horse. prob
ably the one Hawley had been riding
was tied to dwarfed cottonwood near
the corner of the cabin. Nothing else
living was visible.
Il am going TO round up our horses.
and learn the condition OF Hawley's
outfit" he announced in low voice.
i may be gone for fifteen or twenty
minutes, and. meanwhile. Miss Hope.
get ready for a long ride Neb. stand
here close beside the door and if any
one tries 70 come in brain him with
your gun-stock. I'll rap three times
when | return"
He slipped out into the silent night.
and crept cautiously around the end
OF the dark cabin. The distinct change
In the girls attitude Of friendship to.
ward him, her every evident desire
that he should think well OF her. to.
gether with the providential opportu.
nifty for escape, had left him full OF
blindly into thei. hands and Keith
was quick enough 20 accept the adj
vantage. IL was a risk TO himself "a
be sure. thus turning again 20 the
norihward. yet the clear duty he owed
the girl left sucn "A choice almost i'm
perauye. lie certainly could not drag
her along with him on his flight into
the wild COwauche country extend
Ing beyond tho Canadian She must
at the very least. be first returned "a
.he protection OF the standardization
along the Arkansas After that had
been accomplished. he would consider
his own safety. lie wondered If Hone
really was her name. and whether il
was the family cognomcn. or her given
name. That she was Christie Nfaclaire
he had no question. yet that artistic
establishment was probably mcrely
assumed for the work OF the concert
hall Both ho and HawIcy could
scarcely be mistaken as 90 her ideptt
~ ~ this respect, and. indeed. she had
never openly denied the tact Yet she
did not at ali seem to be that kind
and Keith mentally contrasted her
with numerous others whom he had
somewhat intimately known along the
border circuit II was difficult to as
sociate her with that class: she must
have cotOe originally from some excel
lent family East. and been driven 10
the life By necessity. she was -nore ia
b. pitied than blamed. Keith held no
puritSnical views OF life own ok
Derisnces had been too rough and
q n"cratie 'oI that--yet be clung to