Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-16
but If it wasn't father. where is he

But If 1t wasn't father. where is he
now?"
That's what Owe been tryin' ter
foind out First of he went out to the
Cimmaron Crossing. guarded by a
squad O. cavalry from the fort here
Tommy Game whit along. an told
me all-about 1t. They dug up the
bodies, but niver a thing did they find
on EN- mot q paper, nora dollar.
They'd bin robbed all roight. The
ovid Gineral swore loike wild mon
all the way back, Tommy said. an
the first thing he did at Carson City
was to start huntin fer Black Bart
He was two days gittin' on the. trail
av him; then he heard the Teller was
gone away trapsing after singin' or
dancin' gyurl called Christie Maclaire.
She was supposed to be ayther at
Topeky or Sheridan. A freighter told
the ovid man she was at Sheridan, an
SO he started there overland. hopin'
ter head of Black Bart Oh reckon
we could a towld morn that"
what do you mean 2.
Why shure. honey, what's the use
tryin' ter decave me? Didn't Jack
Keith, wild his own lips. tell me We
was Christie Maclaire?"
But I'm not! I'm not, Mrs Muir
ply don't even know the woman.
1t is such a strange thing: cannot
account for it-both those men mis-.
took me for her, and-and let them.
didn't care who the man Hawiey sup
posed me TO be, but Intended to have
told Mr.. Keith he was mistaken.
don't know why didn't. only | sup
posed he finally understood. But |
want you to believe. Mrs. Murphy
| am Hope Waite. and not Christie
Maelaire."" === :
ITS little the loss to We not ter be
her, an Dim thinkin' loikely Jack
Keith will be moighty we'll plased ter
know the truth. What's Black Bart.
so ayger ter git hold ay this Macla1re
gyurl fer? ~
Il do not in the least know. eHe
must have induced me to go to that
place In the desert believing me to be
the other woman Yet he said moth.
ing of any purpose; indeed, he found
no opportunity.
Mrs. Murphy shook her head dis
paragingly.
1T was shure some divilment,'' she
asserted. stoutly. He'll be up to
some trick wild the poor gyurl: OF
know the loikes av him. Shure, the
two av yez must look as much aloike
as two pages in pod Loikely now
it's a twin sister we've got?
Hope smiled. although her eyes
were misty.
"oh. no; Fred and were the only
children; but what shall | do? What
ought to dor
The Irish mouth of Kate Murphy
set firmly. her blue eyes burning.
It's not sthTong Oh am on advisin' Z.
she said. shortly. but il 1t was me
Ord be fer foindin' out what all this
mix-up was about There's somethin
lnoighty quare In It It's my notion
that Hawley's got hold av thin papers
ay yer fathers. The ovid gint thinks
SO. too. an that's why he's SO hot
afther catchin' him. May the divil
admoire me av OF know where this
Maclaire gyurl comes in. but ORR bet
the black divil has get her marked
fer some part in the play. What
would OF do? Be goory. ORD go to
Sheridan. an foind the Gineral, an,
till him all knew. Maybe he could
piece 1t together. and gueHS shat
Hawley was up ter.
Hope was already upon her fest,
her puzzled face Frightening.
"Oh, that Is what ! wanted to do
but was not sure 1t would be best.
How can get there from here?.'
.Ye'd have ter take the stage back
to Topely: loikely they'd be runnin'
thrains out from there on the new
road. tn be aisy fer me ter foind