The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1911-10-19
CHAPTER x,.-(con.inued.)

he assured her. still retaining his hold
upon her hand. This was merely a
preliminary skirmish. and you must
prepare to bear your part in what
follows. We have settled Mr.. Hawley
with his gang"
"Oh. what would have done. If you
had not been here?"
Let us not think about that; we
were here. and now have a busy night
before us If we get away safely. Give
me the rope first. Good! Here. Neb.
you must know how to use this-not
too tight. but without leaving any play
to the arms: take the knife out of his
belt. Now for the cloth. Miss
Maclaire."
Please do not call me that"
But you said 1t didn't make any
difference what called you"
Il thought it didn't then. but 1t does
now"
-.Oh. see; we are already on a new
footing. Yet | must call you some
thing" :.
She hesitated just long enough for
him to notice it. Either she had no
substitute ready at hand. or else doubt
ed the adyisability of confidiug her
real name under present circumstances
to one SO nearly a stranger,
You may call me Hope"
"A name certainly of good omen"
he returned. From this moment /
ehall forget Christie Maclaire, and re-
member only Miss Hope. All right.
Neb: now turn over a chair and sit
your man up against It, He wifi rest
all the easier in that position until his
gang arrives
He thrust his head out OF the door.
peering cautiously forth into the night.
and listening. A single horse. prob
ably the one Hawley had been riding.
was tied toSa dwarfed cottonwood near,
living was visible.
Il am going to round up our horses.
and learn the coalition of Hawley's
outfit" he announced IN a low voice
II may be gone for fifteen or twenty
minutes. and, meanwhile. Miss Hope.
get ready for a long ride, Neb. stand
here close beside the door. and If any
one tries to come in brain him with
your gun-stock. I'll rap three times
when I ratufn." 1850 BAL asa
He slipped ont into the silent night.
and crept cautiously around the end
of the dark cabin. The distinct change
IN the girls attitude OF friendship to
ward him. her every evident desire
that he should think well of her. to-
gether with the providential opportu-
nifty for escape. had left him full OF
confidence. The gambler had played
hlindly into their hands, and Keith
was quick enough to accept the ad.
vantage. 1t was a risk to himself. to
he sure. thus turning again to the
northward. yet the clear duty he owed
the girl left such choice almost i'm
operative. He certainly could not drag
her along with him on his fight into
the wild Comahche country extend
Ing beyond the Canadian. She must.
at the very least. be first returned 10
the protection of the standardization
saiOng the Arkansas After that had
been accomplished. he would consider
his own safety. He wondered kHope
really was her name. and whether it
J, was the family cognomen. or her given
name. That she was Christie MacIafre
ne had no question. yet that artistic
embelIishment was probably merely
assumed for the work of the conce IT
hall Both he and Hawlcy could
scarcely be mistaken as to her identi-
ty in this respect. and, indeed. she had
never openly denied the fact. Yet she
did not al all seem to be that kind.
and Keith mentally contrasted her
With numerous Others whom he had
somewhat intimately known along the
border circuit. It was dificult to as
ISOLATE her With that class: she must
have come originally from some excel
lieut. tanily East. and been driven 10
che life By hecessity: she vas more 10
- pitied than blamed. Keith held no
puritanicai views Of life-his own cx-
periences had been too rough and
democratic for that-yet he chung t.