Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-21

shadows, and not venturing upon
building any fire. Neb threw niiiisoi
on the turf and was instantly asleep.
but Keith climbed the steep size vi
the gully, and made searching SURVEY
Of the horizon. The wide arc 10 .ho
SOUTH east and west revealed nolnips
to his searching eyes, except 'he uuii
brown of the slightly rolling palms
with no life apparent save some us
tant grazing antelope, but to the norm
extended more broken country Win
faint glimmer Of water between the
hills. Satisfied they were unoDserVeu'
he slid back again into the depression
AS he turned to lie down he TOOK hold
of the saddle belonging to HaWieys
horse. In the unbucked holster his
eye observed the gimmer OF DIT or
white paper. lie drew it forth, ana
gezed at it unthinklngly. 1t was an
envelope, robbed of its contents, EVIL
IDENTITY not sent through the mails, as
1t had not been stamped. but across
It's face was plainly written, Miss
Christie Maclaire" He stared at 1t,
his lips firm set, his gray eyes dark
enng If he possessed any doubts
before as to her identity, they were
all thoroughly disgipated now.
AS he lay there. with head pillowed
on the saddle, his body aching from
fatigue yet totally unable to sleep,
staring open eyed TITO the blue of the
sky. the girl they had left behind
awoke from uneasy slumber, aroused
by the entrance of Mrs. Murphy. For
an instant she failed to comprehend
her position, but the strong brogue
Of the energetic landlady broke In
sharply:
"A bit av cup av coffee fer ye,
honey she explained, crossing to the
bed. "Shure an there's nuthin' loike
it when We first wake up. Howly
Mither, but it's toird 'nough we do be
lookin' yet"
Il haven't slept very we'll" the girl
confessed, bringing her hand out from
beneath the coverlet, the lockot still
tightly clasped in her finger. See, |
found this on the floor last night after
you had gone down stairs"
I'VE did," setting the coffee on a
convenient chair, and reaching out for
the trinket. Lets have look Mt it
once. Angels av Hiven, II it isn't the
same the OIL G!neral was shown me
in the party"
The other sat up suddenly, her
white shoulders and rounded throat
cleaning.
THE old General, you said? What
General? When was he here?"
'Shure now, be asy, honey, an OH
tell we all there Is to it, It's not bis
name OF know: maybe Oh niver heard
till av It, but twas the Gineral' they
called him, all right. He was here
maybe three days outtlttin'-a noice
spoken OIL gintlemin wild a gray beard
an onc't he showed me the locket-
be the powers. If it do be his, there's
an openin' to it, an a pictcr inside"
The girl touched the spring, reveal
ing the face within, but her eyes were
blinded with tears. The landlady look
ed at her in alarm.
What is It, honey? What is IT.
Did you know him."
The slender form swayed forward
shaken with sobs.
He was my father, and-and this 1!
my mothers picture which he always
carried"
Then what is your Nance"
Hope Waite"
Kate Murphy looked at the face hal
hidden In the bed-clothes. That wal
not the name which Keith had giver
her, hut she had lived on the horde
too long to be inquistive. The othe
lifted her head, flingirg back he
loosened hair with one hand.
Mr. Keith dropped it" she exclaim
ed. Where do you suppose he got It?
Then she gave a quick, startled cry
her eyes opening wide in horror. "Th
Cimmaron Crossing the murder at tn
Cimmaron Crossing! He--he told M
about that; but he never showed m
this-this. Do you-do you think"
Her voice failed but Kate Murph
gathered her into her arms.
Cry here. honey she said as II t
child, "Shure an Oim tellin' ye
niver was Jack Keith what did it
murther amt his stoyle."