Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-10-19
Its Plainly Christie Maclalre

T. 2
his pony's flank. unable to answer. yet
still unconvinced.
4 reck'n both OBJ yer might be mis-
took. he insisted doggedly.
Not likely" and Keith's brief laugh
was not altogether devoid Of bitter
ness. I'VE both called her Christie
Maclaire, and she didn't even deny the
name; she was evidently not proud OF
It. but there was no denial that she
was the CIR" "a
Dat wasn't like no name dat you
called her when we was ridin'."
mo; she didn't approve of the 9TH
er. and told me to call her Hope. but
reckon she's Christie Maclaire all
right"
They rode on through the black, ST.
lent night as rapidly as their tired
horses would consent to travel Keith
led directly across the open prairie,
guiding his course by the stars and
purposely avoiding the trails. &here
some suspicious eye might mark their
passage. His first object was to get
safely away from the scattered settle
ments lying east of Carson City. Be-
yond their radius he could safely dis
pose of the horses they rode. disap-
pear from view. and find time to de-
velop future plans. As to the girl
well. he would keep his word with
her. Of course. and see her again
sometime There would be no difLS
Guilty about that, but otherwise she
should retain no influence over him.
She belonged rather to Hawley's class
than his.
It was a lonely. tiresome ride. dur
ing which Neb made various efforts
to talk. but finding his white COM
panion uncommunicative. at last re-
lapsed into rather sullen silence The
horses plodded on steadily. and when
daylight finally dawned. the two men
found themselves in a depression lead
ing down to the Smoky River. Here
they came to a water hole. where they
could safely hide themselves and their
stock. With both Indians and white
men to be guarded against. they took
all the necessary precautions, picket.
ing the horses closely under the rock
shadows. and not yenturing upon
building any fire. Neb threw himself
on the turf and was instantly asleep.
but Keith climbed the steep side of
the gully, and made searching survey
of the horizon. The wide arc to the
south. east and west revealed nothing
to his searching eyes, except the duh
brown of the slightly rolling plains.
with no life apparent save some dis
tant grazing antelope, but to the north
extended more broken country with a
faint glimmer Of water between the
hills Satisfied they we're unobserved.
he slid back again into the depression,
AS he turned to He down he took hold
Of the saddle belonging to Hawley's
horse. In the unbuckled holster his
eye observed the glimmer or q bit of
white paper. He drew It forth. and
gazed at II unthinkingly. 1t was an
envelope. robbed OF its contents, evi
IDENTIFY not sent through the mails. as
Il had not been stamped. but across
its face was plainly written. Miss
Christie Maclairer He stared at 1t,
his lips firp set. his gray eyes dark
ening II he possessed any doubts
before as to her identity, they were
all thoroughly dissipated- now.
AS he lay there. with head pillowed
on the saddle. his body aching from.
fatigue yet totally unable to sleep.
staring open;eyed Into the blue OF the
sky. the girl they had len behind
awoke from uneasy slumber, aroused
BY the entrance Of Mrs. Murphy. For
an Instant she failed to comprehend
her position. but the strong brogae:
OF the energetic landlady broke IN
sharply
"A bit av cup Az coffee fer ye..
honey she explained. crossing to the