The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-12-28

vv,op1ng darkness. The trail, easily
followed, led directly along its single
street, but Keith circled the outskirts
through a wilderness of tin-cans and
heaps of other debris, until he halted
his charges beside the black shadow
of the only two-story edifice in the
place. This was the Occidental, the
hospitality of which he had frequently
tested.
A light streamed from out the front
windows, but, uncertain who might
be harbored within. Keith tapped
gently at the back door. 1t was not
opened Immediately, and when 1t was
finally showed aside the merest crack.
no glow of light revealed the darkened
interior. The voice which spoke, how
ever, was amply sufficient to identify
its owner.
"Is that We agin, Murphy, playin'
av yer dirthy thricks?"
NO, Mrs. Murphy" he fastened to
explain. ''this is Keith-Jack Keith.
of the Bar X's
"The Lord deliver usi" was the IN
slant exclamation, the door opening
wide. They do be afther tellin' me
tonight av the throuble We was In
over at Carson, an Oh fought maybe
ye moight turn up this way 1t was
a nate trick We played on the loikes
av 'em, Jack, but this is a dom poor
place fer We ter hide in Bedad, there's
q half-dozen in the party now talkin'
about it, wild couple av officers from
the fort. Is the mayer wild ye?"
Eyes, but we have no intention Of
hiding here. I'd rather take my
chance in the open. The fact is, Kate.
We started of for the Bar x"
CAV course, We did; OF was shure AZ
It,"
But down on the Salt Fork we ran
across young girl whom Black Bart
had inveigled down that way on q lie.
We had bit of fight, and got her
away from him. This is what brought
us back hereto put the girl where
she will be safe out of his clutches"
The door was wide open now, and
Mrs. Murphy outside, her interest at
fever heat.
Eye had foight wild Black Bart!
Oh. We divil! An We licked the dirthy
spalpane, an got away wild his gyurl!
Glory be! And would OF take her?
Well. OF would. Niver doubt that, me
bye. She may be the quane av shaba,
an she may be a Digger Injun Squaw,
but the loikes av him had better kape
away from Kate Murphy. It's glad
OF am ter do it! Bring her in. OF
don't want ter hear no more"
Just word, Kate; don't know
whether she has any money or not.
but I'll pay her bill, as soon as it is
safe for me to come back
"Oh, the divil take her BILL She'll
have the best in the house, anyhow,
an Ohm only hopin' that fellow will
turn up huntin' her. Old loike ter
take one slap at the spalpane."
Fully convinced as to Mrs. Murphy's
goodwill, Keith slipped back into the
darkness, and returned with the girl.
Introductions were superfuous, as the
mistress of the Occidental cared littls
regarding ceremony.
"An' is this you, my decr?" she
burst out, endeavoring to curb her
voice to secretive sortness. "Shure,
Jack Keith has told me all about it,
an it's safe it is yer goin' ter be here.
Come on in; Oil give We number
forty-two, thet's next behint me own
room, an we'll go up the back sthairs.
Hip the young loidy, Jack, fer shure
We know the way"
She disappeared, evidently with
some hospitable purpose in view, and
Keith, clasping the girls hand, under
took the delicate task of safely escort
ing her through the dark kitchen, and
up the dimly remembered stairs. Only
a word or two passed between them,
but as they neared the second story
light suddenly streamed out through
the opened door of room at their
left. Mrs. Murphy greeted them at
the landing, and for the first time saw
the girls weary white face, her eyes
filled with appeal, and the warm Irish
heart responded instantly.
Eye poor little lamb; it's the bid
We want, an dhrap O. whiskey. Jack
Keith, why didn't We till me she was
done up wild the hard ride? Here.
honey, sit down in the rocker till OF
get We wee dhrink. It'll bring the
roses back to the cheeks av ye." She
was gone, bustling down the dark
stairs, and the two were alone in the
room, the girl looking up into bis face.
her head resting against the cushion
ed back of the chair. He thought he
saw a glimmer of tears in the depths
of her lash-shaded eyes, and her
round white throat seemed to choke.
You will be perfectly secure here"
he said, soothingly, land can remain
as long as you please. Mrs. Murphy
will guard you as though you were her
own daughter. She is bit rough.
maybe, but big-hearted woman, and
despises Hawley. She nursed me
once through touch of typhoid-yes,
by Jove," glancing about in sudden
recognition, land in this very room,
too"
The girls glance wandered over tho
plain, neat furnishings, and the rather
pathetic attempts at decoration, vet