Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-22

she preferred what was said betw cen
them should not reach the ears OF the
negrs. yet somehow. for the moment.
they made NO adequate impression on
him. Like = famishsd wolf hs began
on the coarse fare. and for ten min.
utes hardly lifted his head. Then his
eyes CHANGED to meet hers across the
narrow table. and instantly the gen
ueman reawoke to life.
Il have been perfect brute" he 40
knowledge frankly. with no thought
except for myself. Hunger WAS my
master. and ask your forgiveness.
Miss Maclaire."
Her eyes smiled
II am 20 very glad to have any one
here-any one-in whom ! feel even
4 little oonndence-thAt nothing else
greatly matters. Can you both eat,
and listen?''
Keith nodded. his eyes full of inter
se:. searching her face.
Whoever I may be. Mr.. Keith, and
really that seems only Of small i'm
portanos. came to Fort LArned seek
ing some trace Of my only brother.
he had fallen into evil companionship.
On tho stage trip WAS fortunate
enough to form an acquaintance with
4 man who told me he knew whore
could meet Fred. but that tho boy was
hiding because Of some trouble he
had lately gotten into. and that
should have to proceed very carefully
so AS not to lead the officers to dis
cover his whereabouts. This gentle
man was engaged In some business at
Carson City. but he employed q man
to bring mo to this place. and prom.
ised to get Fred. and meet mo here the
following day. There must have been
some failure In the plans, for have
been here entirely alone now for three
days. 1t has been very lonesome. and
and Eve been = little frightened.
Perhaps | ought not to have come, and
] am not certain what kind of = place
this is. was 30 afraid when you
came. but am not afraid now"
You have no need to be-" he said
soberly, impressed by the innocent
candor of the girl. and feeling thank
ful that he was present to aid her. II
could not wrong one OF the South"
My father always told me could
trust Southern gentleman under any
circumstances Mr.. Hawley was from
my own State. and knew many OF our
old friends. That WAS why felt such
unusual confidence In him. although
he WAS but = travelling acquaintance"
Mr.. Hawieyr'
"The gentleman whom | met on the
stage"
oh. yes: you said he WAS In bust
ness in Carson City. but | don't seem
to remember any one of that name"
He was not there permanently;
only to complete some business desl."
And your brother' I may possibly
have known him"
She hesItated an instant, her eyes
dropping. until completely shaded by
the long lashes.
"He-hs WAS rather = wild boy, and
ran away from home to enlist In the
army. But he got into bad set, and
and deserted. That WAS part Of the
trouble which caused him to hide. He
enlisted under the name OF Fred VIII
loughby Mr.. Hswlsy told mo this
much. but l am Afraid he did not tell
me all"
And he said you would meet him
heref"
Keith gsxed about the bare sur
roundipgs wondsrngly. What was
this place. hidden away In the midst
Of the desert, isolated In . spot where
not even Indians roamsd Could II be
\ secret rendezvous OF crime, tho
headquarters Of desporadoes. Of cat
tie rustlsrs. Of the highwaymen Of the
sante Fe Trail--a point to which they
could ride when hard pressed. GER
tain Of hiding here In safetyY He be-
gan to suspect this. but. II SO. who
then was this Hawley. aud with what
object had he sent this girl hsrsi
Every way be turned was to confront
mystery. to face a now puzzle. What
ever she might be-even the music
hall singer he believed-she had been
inveigied hero innocently enough.
Even now she possessed only the most
vague suspicion that she had been do
ceived. The center Of tho whole plot,
II there was plot. must be Hawley.
Yes" she replied. "hs said that this
was one of tho stations Of q big ranch
on which Fred was employed, and that
he would certainly be here within .
day or two"
you met Hswley O. the stage
coachf How did ysu become acquaint
cdr
I'VE were alone for nearly nfty
miles" her voice faltering slightly.
"and-and he called me what you did"
Christie Maclairsr'
Yes: he-be seemed to think he
knew me. and needed help 10 much
that let him believe SO. thought
It could do no harm. and then. when
found he actually knew Fred. I didn't
think of anything else. only how for
tunate I was to thus meet him. Surely
something serious must have happen
ed, or he would have been here before
this. Do you-do you suppose there
Is anything wrongr'
Keith did not smile nor change
posture. The more he delved into the
matter. tho more serious he felt the
situation to BE-. He knew all those
ranches lying south on the Canadian.
and was aware that this was no out
station. No cattle ever came across
that ssndy desert unisss driven by