Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-28
CHAPTER xxi.
An Interrupted Interview.


Miss Christie Maclaire. attired in a
soft lounging robe, her luxuriant hair
wound simply about her head. forming
decidedly attractive picture, gazed
with manifest dissatisfaction on the
bare walls Of her room, and then out
through the open window into the
comparative quiet street below. The
bartender at the Palace" directly
opposite. business being slack. was
leaning negligently in the doorway.
His rowing eyes caught tho fair face
framed In the window, and he waved
his hand encouragingly. Mise Chris
ties brown eyes stared across al him
In silent disgust, and then wandered
again about the room, her foot tapping
nervously on the rag carpet.
IT'S my very last trip to this town"
she said decisively, her red lips
pressed tightly together.
Miss Maclaire had indeed ample
reason to feel asgriOved over her re-
ception. She had written to have the
best apartment in the house reserved
for her, and then, merely because she
had later been invited out to Fort
Hays, and was consequently a day be-
hind In arrival. had discovered that
another woman-a base impoEter. act
ually masquerading under her name
had been duly installed IN the coveted
apartment. Driving In from the fort
that morning. accompanied by two Of
the more susceptible junior officers,
conscious that she had performed
most artistic work the evening before
In the spacious mess.hall, and feeling
confident OF comfortable quarters
awaiting her, II had been something OF
a shock to be informed by the per
turbed clerk that "16" was already
occupied by another. "A lady what
come in last night, and I naturally
supposed 1t was you"
In vain Miss Maclare protested,
ably backed by the worshipful officers
who still calamity attended her; the
management was obdurate, Then she
would go up herself, and throw the
hussy out Indeed, too angry for
bantering further words, Christie had
actually started for the stairs, intend
ing to execute her threat, when the
perspiring Tommy succeeded in stop
ping her, by plainly hurting out the
exact truth.
Don't you ever do It," he insisted,
The marshal brought her in here.
and nred fellow out O. the room so
as to give It to her. He'd clean out
this house II we ran in cold deck on
a friend O. his"
What do care for what your
marshal does7"
But he's Bill Hickock, Miss, Wild
Bill"
Miss Maclaire leaned back against
the stair-rail her eyes turning from
Tommy to her speechless supporters.
Slowly tho truth seemed to penetrate
her brain.
oh" she gasped at last, "Then-
then what else can you give me?"
The officers had long since depart
ed, promising. however, to remain
over IN town and hear her again that
night at the Trocadero. with hints as
to a late supper; she had received
call from the manager Of that most
popular resort, and had rendered his
life miserable by numerous demands;
had passed half an hour pracicing
with the leader of the orchestra; but
now was at last alone. tired, decided
ly irritable, and still tempted to In
wade "l5," and give that other woman
pisce Of her mind. Then some one
rarred on the door, There was a de
cided accent OF vexation In the voice
v&las babe the one outside enter. but