The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-23

"~s"6 w TVsU NUoco, nc cav q man
Already Hail Across tho stream.
TO reply Just about as straight a. you
know how. l am 10 no mood tonight
for any foolishness. Where is Black
Bart Hawleyr'
How In hell should I known"
You do know, Just the same. Per-
haps not to an inch, or a mile, but
you know near enough where he Is,
and where he has been since you left
Sheridan"
IF do. I'm damned II I'll tell you"
Nor Well now, Hatchett, listen to
me-" and Keith's voice had In 1t the
click Of a steel trap. You'll either
answer. and answer straight or we'll
hang you to that cottonwood In about
i've minutes. II you want a chance
for your miserable life you answer
me- We have our way of treating your
kind out In this country. Sit up, you
brute! Now where did Hawley 20 att.
er he left your
To Fort Larned."
After those fresh horsesr"
Yes"
He didn't bring them to you; l
know that Where has he been since?"
Topeky and Leavenworth,"
How do you knowr'
He writ me q note the boss herder
brought
Hand il over"
Keith took the dirty slip OF paper
the man reluctantly extracted from
his belt, and Fairbain lit matches
while he ran his eyes hastily over the
lines AZ he ended he crushed the
paper between his fingers, and walked
away 70 the end Of the corral He
wanted 70 be alone, 70 think, to decide
definitely upon what he ought to DO.
Hawley. according 70 the schedule
just read, must have left Larned alone
early the day before: this night he
would be camped at the watsr-hole;
with daybreak he expected to resume
bis lonely Journey across the desert
to the Salt Fork For years Keith had
lived a primitive life, and In some
ways his thought had grown print.
tive. His code Of honor was that or
the border. tinged by that OF the South
before the war. The antagonism exist
Ing between him and this gambler was
personal. private, deadly-not an az
fair for any yothers-outsiders-t med.
die with. He could wait here. and
permit Hawley to be made captive;
could watch him ride unsuspectingly
into the power Of these armed men,
and then turn him over to the law to be
dealt with. The very thought nause-
ated him. That would be q coward's
act, leaving q stain never to be eradi-
Gated. No. he must meet this as
became man. and now. now before
Hope 80 much as dreamed of his pur-
pose-aye. and before he spoke an.
other word of love to Hope He
wheeled about fully decided on his
course. his duty. and met Fairbain
face to face.
Jack" the latter said earnestly,
Il read the note over your shoulder,
and of course ] know what you mean
~ do. A Southern gentleman could
not choose otherwise But I've come
here 10 beg you to let me have the
chance"
Your" surprised and curious.
What greater claim on that fellows
life have you than II"
The pudgy hands of the doctor
grasped the plainsman's shoulders.
IT'S for Christie" he explained
brokenly. "She was the one he tried
TO run away with. You-you know
how I feel"
Sure, l know" shaking the other
OF. get not roughly But It happen.
cd TO be Miss Waite he took. and so
this is my Job. Fairbain. Besides. I've
got another score to settle with him"
He wasted little time upon prepara-
uons-e few brief words of instruc-
uon To Brfstoe; q request 70 the doc
Tor not to leave Hope alone: the ex-
tracing Of a promise from the two
bar x" men to return to Larned
with the prisoners. Then he roped
the best horse In the corral, saddled
and bridled him, and went into the
cabin She had light burning, and
met him at the door.
Il thought you would never come,
but they told me you were unhurt"
Not . scratch. little girl; we have
oeen a lucky bunch. But I have had
great deal TO look after. Now I
snail be- Obliged TO ride ahead as far
as tne wAter-hole. and let you como
ON with the others a little later, after
you get breakfast You can spare me
few hours, can't your"
His tone vas full Of good humor,
and his fips smilins pet somehow she
felt her heart sfnk. an inexplicable
fser finding expression In her eyus.
"But--but why DO you need 10 GOT
Couldn't some of the othersY"
There 10 q reason which I will ex.
plain later" he ssid, more gravely.
Surely you can trust me. Hope. and