The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-23


posed toward Mr. Hawley. wish in
this I was no longer compelled to con.
slider you an enemy Of US both. There
10 no reason why I should. except for
your blind prejudice against this other
man who 10 my friend. know you
have some cause. for he has told me
the entire story. yet am sure he did
no moro than his actual duty. He let
mo realize how very sorry he was that
the marshal at Carson City had called
upon him for assistance"
WHO! Hawiey?" Keith questioned,
hardly trusting his own ears.
~Yes: indeed he 10 Q very different
man from what you have been led to
believe I know he is q gambler, and
ell that, but really It is not altogether
has fault He told me about his life.
and II was very sad. He was driven
from homo when only Q boy, and
naturally drifted into evil company.
His one ambition u 10 break away,
and redeem himself. am 80 anxious
to help him. and wish you could real
ixe his purpose. a. I do. and become
his friend. Won't you. for my sake?
Why. even In this affair he has not
the slightest mercenary purpose-he
has only thought Of what was rightful-
ly mine"
Keith listened. feeling to the full the
voman's earnestness. the impossibili.
ty Of changing her flxed conviction.
Hawiey had planted his seed deep and
we'll IN fruitful soil.
advocate. Miss Maclaire." he returned,
feeling the necessity Of saying some
thing. II should like to have you
equally earnest on my side. Yet It
will be hard to convince me that
Black Bart is the paragon Of virtue
you describe. I wish might believe
Tor your sake hid he also explain
how he came into possession Of these
papers?"
"Oh, yes. indeed; there IL no secret
about that They were entrusted to
him by an Old man whom he discov-
cred sick IN Independence, and who
died In his rooms three years ago.
Mr.. Hawiey has been searching ever
since for the old mans granddaughter
II 10 remarkable how he was finally
convinced that was. the one."
"A photograph. was II mott"
A gieam of sudden suspicion ap-
psared In the brown eyes. q slight
change In facial expression.
THAT was q clue. yea. but far from
being all But Why should toll you
thissCyou believe nothing I say"
II believe that you believe: that
you are fully convinced Of the Justice
of your claim Perhaps It 10 Just, but
an suspicious Of anything which
Bart Hawley has Q hand In. Miss
Aristie. you really make me wish to
retain your friendship. but cannot
do % II the cost includes faith IN
Hawley. Do you know that 10 not
even his name-that he lives under an
alias?"
Is there anything strange in that
out here?" she asked stoutly. "T told
you how deeply he regretted his life;
that alone would be sum Client cause
for him TO drop his family name. DID
you ever learn his true namer"
lie was NOT sure-only rs Neb had
reported what Waite had called the
man. yet ventured q direct reply.
Bartlett, I believe-he uses Il now
- prefix"
"Bartletti-Bartlett!" her hands
clasping. and unclaspins nervousiy.
Why, what Q strange coincidence!"
Howl What do you meant"
oh. nothing-nothing." biting her
lips In vexation. THE name merely
recalled something. But really, must
60 MIR. Keith. or I shall be late at tho
theater. You have not attended since
came!"
NO" arising from tho table with
her. However. I have heard you
sing before. and hope I may again"
How tenderly you dwell on that
word hope. she said banteringly, 1T
almost makes me envious."
Your resemblance almost makes
mo forget"
But not gutter"
No, not quite" he confessed
smihns oack into her Qufzxlng eyes.
They went out into the hall togeth-
er. only to meet with Doctor Fairbain
ut the door. The latter stared at the
two with some embarrassment, for a
moment forsetful of his purpose. His
gaze settled on the face of tho lady.
Always getting you two mixed" he
blurted forth. Never saw such re-
semblance-positivefy uncanny-same
hotel too means trouble-this Miss
WaiteY''
No, Doctor; ! am Miss Maclaire."
Ought to have known tiff I knew
as much about faces as do about an
atomy never would make such mis-
| | NJ 81 N.l.