The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-09-29
when / return

SAS kASO ZIG 8llGAt AkBA
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
blindly into their hands, and Keith
was quick enough to accept the adj
vantage. 1t was a risk to himself, to
be sure, thus turning again to the
northward, yet the clear duty he owed
the girl left such a choice almost i'm
perative. He certainly could not drag
her along with him on his fight into
the wild Comanche country extend
ing beyond the Canadian. She must.
at the very least, be first returned to
the protection of the standardization
along the Arkansas. After that had
been accomplished, he would consider
his W safety. He wondered IL Hope
really was her name, and whether il
wal the family cognomen, or her given
name. That she raj Christie Maclaire
he had no question. vet that artistic
establishment was probably merely
assumed for the work of the concert
hall. Both he and Hawley could
scarcely be mistaken a. to her identt-
ty In this respect. and. indeed, she had
never openly denied the fact. Yet she
did not at all seem to be that kind.
and Keith mentally contrasted her
with numerous others whom he had
somewhat intimately known along the
border circuit, 1t was dificult to a.
sociats her with that class: she must
have come originally from some excel
lent family East, and been driven to
the life BY necessity she was more to
b. pitied than blamed. Keith held NO
puritanical views Of hta-his own ex.
per.eaees had been too rough and
democratic for that-yet he chung to-
n~aciously to N ideal Of womanhood
which could not be lowered. However
interested he might otherwise feel.
no Christie Maclaire could ever find
entrance into the deeps OF hts heart,
where dwelt alone the memory Of his
mother.
He found the other horses turned
into the corral, and was abls, from
their restless movements, TO decide
they numbered eight. A IRE, nearly
sxtinguished, glowed duly ct the
farther cornsr Of the enclosure, and
he crawled close enough to d-r1non,sh
tho recumnent s.rns OF men sleeping
9 n on the ground. Apparently
no guard had been set, the fellows be-
ing worn out from their long ride. and
confident of safety In this isolated
spot. Besides, Hawley had probably
assumed that duty, and told them to
get whatever sleep they could. How
ever, the gate Of the corral opened be-
side their fre. and Keith dare not
venture upon roping any Of their
ponies, or leading them out past
where they slept. There might
be clippers IN the cabin with which he
could cut the wires. yet II one of the
gang awoke, and discovered the herd
absent, Il would result In an alarm.
and lead to early pursuit. 1t was far
safer to use their own ponies. He
would lead Hawley's horse quietly
through the water. and they could
mount on the other shore. This plan
settled, he went at It swiftly, riding
the captured animal while rounding
up the others, and fastening the three
to stunted trees on the opposite bank
Everything within the cabin remained
exactly a. he had left 1t, and he briefly
explained the situation, examing Haw
ley's bonds again carefully while do
Ing 90.
He'll remain there all right unit
his men md him." he declared, posi-
lively. and tAat ought to give us
good six hoo1s' start. Come, Mis-
Hope. every n1nute counts now"
He held hse nm. not unconscious O
Ito round shapeliness, as he helped he.
down the Suehsr steep bank through
the dense gleom. Then the two mel
Joined hands. and carrying her be
tween then. waded the shallow
stream. TAs herses, not yet sufacfent
ly rested - - risky. accepted thei
burdens msskly enough, and. will
scarcely . wuga spoken, the three rod
away silen41v into the gloom Of tn
night.