Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-09
CHAPTER xvlll.-teontlnued.9


under the assumed name of Fred Will
loughby.
CHAPTER xvlil.-(continucd.)
Just little," carelessly, but what
sort Of trick could he be working
trying to make you acknowledge
Christie Maclaire as your sister,"
Willoughby did rot answer, shifting
tneasily about on the bed. Keith
waited. and at last the boy blurted
out:
''Oh. it wasn't nothing much. told
him something when ] was drunk
once, that thought maybe might
have stuck to him. Odd. he should
make that mistake, too, for showed
him Hopes picture. Bart's a schemer,
and didn't know but what he might
have figured out d trick, though
don't see how he could. 1t wasn't no
more than pipe dream, reckon
Where did you meet. Hope? Back In
Missouri" +
oh. I've known her some time. Not
long ago did her service for which
she is grateful Did you know she
was out in this country searching for
your"
"Out here? In Kansas 2"
Sure: that isn't much of a trip
for spirited girl She got It In her
head from your letters that you were
m trouble, and set out to find you
and bring you home. She didn't tell
me this, but that is the way heard It.
fnp hAr IN,
Why npt go to her. Willoughby and
then both OF you return to Missouri"
The sullenness had gone out of the
boys face: he looked tired. discour
aged
Where is Hope?" he asked.
Port Larned. Il suppose. She went
to Carson City first
Wen, that settles It," shaking his
head You don't suppose I could 90
browsin' round Larned. and not get
snapped up do you? They don't chase
the post | skipped from, and they'd
jug me all right Besides, I'm damned
II Ill go back until get stake.
want to see fellow first"
What fellow?"
Well it's Hawley. If you want TO
know SO bad. He said If would come
here and wait for him he'd put me on
to good thing"
1 Was there deeply laid plot back of
all these preparations involving both
Willoughby and his sister? What
was 1t Hawley was scheming about so
carefully, holding this boy deserter
in one hand. while he reached out the
other after Christie Maclaire? Surely,
the man was not working blindly; he
must have purpose in view. VIII
loughby had acknowledged he had told
the fellow something once when he
was drunk-about his family history,
no doubt. for he had shown him
Hopes picture What that family
secret was Keith had no means OF
guessing. but Hawley- the moment he
saw the face on the cardboard, had
evidently recognized Christie Maclaire
had thought of some way in which
what he now knew could be turned
to advantage. The few scattered facts
which Keith had collected all seemed
to point to such conclusion-Hawiey
had sent the boy to Sheridan, where
he would be out of sight. with orders
to wait for him there, and the prom
ise OF stake" to keep him quiet,
Then he had gone to independence
and Topeka seeking after Christie
Maclaire. Evidently he meant to keep
the two apart until he had gained
from each whatever 1t was ne.
sought. But what could that bel
g.
have biureed out in his cups which
had SO stimulated the gamblers wits? 2
Two things combined to cause
Keith to determine he would uncover
this rascality--his desire to repay
HawIey. and his interest in the girl
rescued ON the Salt Fork This eossa.
mer web Of intrigue into (which he had
stumbled unwittingly was nothing to
I him personality had It not involved
both Hawley and Miss Hope. he would
have left It unsolved without another
thought. But under the circumstances
1t became his own battle. There was
q crime here-hidden as yet. and
probably not contaminated involving
girl He would dig into this until ne
wrong. perhaps disgrace. to the young
uncovered the truth he would md
out what dirty trick Black Bart was
up to,
As he thought this out. not swiftly
IS recorded. but slowly deliberately.
piecing the bits together within his
mind. bIindly feeling his way to
final conclusion. the boy had .sas...s
back upon the bed. overcome with
liquor. and fallen asleep Keith
stepped over. and looked down upon
him II the dim Light He could rscogs
nize something Of her features in the
uptnrned face. and his eyes softened
There was no use seeking again TO