Semi-weekly herald., 1911-06-12
cHAPT ER XIV.
Again Christie MacIaIrs.

Again Christie Maclairs.
Keith possessed sufficient mesns fos
several months of idlenoss, and even
II he had not. his reputation a. a
plains scout would insure him employ.
ment At any of the more important
scattered army posts. Reliable men
tor such service were In demand. The
rsstlsssness of the various Indian
tribes. mado specially manifest by
raids on the more advanced settle.
nents. and extending over q constant.
ly widening territory, required contin.
uous Interchange OF communicate N
between commanders of detachments.
Bold and reckless spirits had nocked
to the frontier in those days follow.
ing the Civil War. yet all were not OF
the type to encourage confidence in
military authorities. Keith had al.
ready frequently served In this ca.
pacity. and abundAntiy proved his
worth under rigorous demands OF both
endurance and Intelligence. and he
could feel assured OF permanent EN-.
pioymsnt whenever desired. Not a
few Of the more prominent oficers he
had met personally during the late
war-including Sheridan, to whom he
had once borne nag OF truce-yet
the spirit OF the Confederscy still lin.
gsred In his heart; not In any feeling
OF either hatred or revenge. but In an
un n~illingness to serve the blue uni.
fofm. and memory Of nntasonism
which would not entirely disappear.
He had aurrandarAd at
conquered. yet he could not quite ad.
just himself to becoming companions.
In arms with those against whom he
had fought valiantly for four years.
Some OF the wounds of that conflict
s,ill smarted. A natural soldier, anx.
tous to help the harsssed settlers,
eager enough to be actively employed,
he still held aloof from army oonnec.
tions except us volunteer in case of
emergency.
Just now other considerations
caused him to desire freedom. He
had been accused Of murder, impris.
oned for 1t, and In order to escape,
had been compelled to steal horses,
the most heinous crime of the from
titNJg Not only for his own protec.
tion and safety must the truth OF that
occurrence vt the Cimmaron Crossing
rbe made clear. but he also had now q
personal AFFAIR with Black Bart" Haw.
ley to be permanently settled They
had already clashed twice. and Keith
intended they should meet again.
Memory OF the girl WAS still In his
mind as he and Neb rode silently
forth on the black prairie. leading the
extra horse behind him. He endeav-
ored to drive the recollection from his
mind. SO he might concentrate 1t upon
plans for the future, but somehow she
mysteriously wove her own PERSONAL.
ty into those plans. and he was ever
seeing the pleading in her eyes, and
listening to the soft Southern accent
of her voice. OF late years he had
been unaccustomsd to association
with women OF high type. and there
was that touch OF the gentlewoman
about this girl which had awakened
deep interest. OF course he knew that
IN her case 1t was merely an inheri.
lance OF her past. and could not truly
represent the present Christie Ma
fascinating she might be, she could
not be worthy any serious considera-
ton. In spite OF his rough life the
social spirit of the old South WAS i'm
planted In his blood, and no woman OF
that class could hold him captive. Yet,
some way, she refused to be bsnishsd
Or left behind Even Neb must have
been obsessed by a similar spirit. for
As suddenly observed:
Dat am sutt'nly mighty fine gal.
Aassa Jack. amt seen nothin' TO
compare wild her since quit oil Vir-
Stnia-'deed | amt"
Keith glanced back at his black
satellite. barely able to distinguish
the fellows dim outlines
You think her a lady. thenf' he
questioned. giving thoughtless utter
ance to his own Imagination.
Deed ! does," the thick voice
somewhat indignant. Il reck'n l
knows de real quality when | sees 1t.
Pss ISOLATED wild quality white folks
bsfo'"
But. Neb. she's a singer In dance
halls"
II don't believe It, Masss Jack"
We'll, | wouldn't II ! could help It,
She don't seem like that kind. but l
recognised her ss soon as | got her
face In the light She WAS at the
Gxlsty In Independence. the last time