Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-28


his charge to the cinders below. BENZ
Ing before her, aud butting his great
shoulders into the surging crowd ne
shcceeded in pushing passage
through, thus finally bringing her
TORN to the edge Of the street.
Hoy, there" he said shortly, grab
bling shirt-seeved individual by the
arm. Where's Charlie?"
The fellow looked at him wonder
ingly.
Charlie? Oh you mean the Kid?
Well. he amt here ter-night; had a
weddin', an Is totin' the bridal
couple round
Fairbain swore discrectly under his
breath, and cast an uncertain glance
at the slender figure shrinking beside
him. The streets of Sheridan were
cot over pleasant at night.
only hack in town Is somewhere
else, Miss he explained briefly. Il
reckon you and will have to hoof It,"
He felt the grip OF her fingers on his
sleeve
The boys are little noisy, but It's
Just their way-don't mean anything
you hang on to me. an keep the veil
down-wcll be there in the shake of
uoe's tail"
He helped her over the muddy
crossing. and as they reached a stretch
OF board walk, began eXpatiating on
the various places lining he way
That's the Mammoth over there
dance hall back Of it--biggest thing
west Of the .!issouri-three men killed
there last wccl.-what tor? Oh, they
cot TOO fresh-that's he Casino and
the one he"crd is 'Po1y Joe's Place
cut his leg off since I've been here
fight over girl Amt there any
f,oroe sure; they're farther back
YOU see the saloons got in flrst-that's
'5heeny Mikes gambling joint you're
looking alike to so over and SEQ
'cm play? All right. juet thought I'd
psa you--it's carly anyhow. and things
wouldn't be eoin' very lively yet. Say,
there. yon red head, what are you try
Ing to do?"
The fellow had lurched out of the
crowd in such manner as to brush
partially aside the girls veil, per-
hitting the glare of "Sheeny Mikes"
lights TO fall full upon her revealed
face. 1t was accomplished so openly
ms to appear planned but before he
could reel away again, Fairbain struck
out, and the man went down With
an oath he was on his feet, and Hope
covered back against her protector
Each man had weapons drawn, the
crowd scurrying madly to keep out Of
the line OF fire, when, with stride, a
row figure stepped quietly in between
them. Straight as an arrow. broad
shouldered, yet small WASTED as a
Woman, his hair hanging low over his
coatcollar. his face smooth shaven
except for long moustache, and
emotionlesg, the revovers in his belt
untouched. he simply looked at the
two, and then struck the revolver out
OF the drunken mans hand 1t fell
harmless to the ground.
And don't you pick It up until
tell you, Scott" he said quietly. III
you do you've got to fight me-"
Without apparently giving the fell
low another thought, he wheeled and
faced the others
"Oh, it's you. is II, Doctor? The
drunken fool won't make any more
trouble. Where were you taking the
lady?"
ITO the hotel, Bill"
I'll walk along with you. reckon
the boys will give Us plenty of room"
He glanced over the crowd, and then
moro directly at Scott.
Pick up your gun" the brief words
e0?nping out. This ie the second time
! yc caught you hunting trouble. The
ney' time you are going to find 1t.
ga" YOU run into this lady-what did
you do it for"
II only wanted to see who she was,
Bill"
You needn't call me Bill, don't
trot in your class. My name is
HickocE to you. Was II any Of your
srair who she vas?"
II reckoned know'd her. and
did"
The marshal turned his eyes toward
Hope. and then back upon Scott, evil
IDENTITY slightly Interested
50? Recognized an old friend.
euppose?"
The slight eneor in wild Bill's"
eoft voice caused Scott to flame up in
sudden passion.
NO, didn't but | called the turn
Just the same-shes Christie Mac
lare'
The marshal smiled.
"All right, little boy" he said sober.
" Now YOU trot straight along to
bed Don't let ne catch you on the
street aTain tonight, and I'd advise
ycu not TO pull another gun--you're
too slow on the trigger for this town.
Come along, Doctot and Wen get
Miss iaclaire to her hotel"
We shoulderes his way through the
collected crowd, the other following
Hope endeeyored to speak, to explain
TO Fairb2in who she actually was, real.
izing then, for the first time, that she
had not previously given him her
name. Amidst the incessant noise
ami confusion, the b!aring of brass,
and the iangIe of voices, she found It
impos sihle to make the man compre.
bend. She pressed closer to him, hold
ing more tightly to his arm. stunned
and confused by tho fierce uproar. The
sty;r-." di'v wshinC ahead of
them, ant Opening a path for their
passage, fascinated her, and her eyes