The Mena weekly star., 1911-09-21
ts Carson City first :.

ts Carson City first
 We'll. that settles It." shaking his mead. You don't suppose could go orowsin' round Larned, and not get snapped up, do you? They don't cbasa oeserters very far out here. but that.s Inc post skipped from. and thev.6 Jug me all right. Besides, I'm damned II I'll go back until get stake. I want to see fellow first"
 What fellow7"
 Well, it's Hawley, If you want ,o know sc bad He said if I womb coma here and wait for him he'd put me on to a good thing"
 The boy hdgeted along the edge of the bed, evidently half ashamed or himself, Yet obstinate and unyielding Keith sat watching his face, unable to eVolve any means of changing his de. clsion. Hawley's influence just at present was greater than Hope's he cause the lad naturally felt ashamed to go sinking home penniless and de- ieated. His pride held him to Hawley, and his faith that the man would re- deem his promise. Keith understood all this readily enough and compre- hended also that if Black Bart" had any use for the boy it would be for some criminal purpose. What was it? Was there deeply laid plot back of all these preparations involving both Wllloughby and his sister? What was 1t Hawley was seheming about so carefully. holding this boy deserter In one rand, while he reached out the other after Christie Maclaire? Surely, the man was not working blindly: he must have purpose in view. Will ioughby 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 Maclaile 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 a conclusion-Hawley 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 he sought. But what could that bel What family secret could Willoughby have biurted out in his cups, which had so stimulated the gamblers wits?
 Two things combined to cause Keith to determine he would uncover this rascality-his desire to repay Hawley, and his interest in the girl rescued on the Salt Fork This gossa- hler web of intrigue into which he had stumbled unwittingly was nothing to him personally; had 1t not involved 10th Hawley and Miss Hope, he would have left 1t unsolved without another thought. But under the circumstances 1t became his own battle. There was a crime here-hidden as yet, and wrong, perhaps disgrace, to the young girl. He had rescued her once from out the clutches of this man, and he had TO intention of deserting her now. Whatever her life might be, she was certainly an innocent victim in this case. dee crying his protection. The memory came to him of her face up turred toward him in that little room of the Occidental her eyes tear dirnmed. her lips asking him to come back to her again. He could not be- Aeve her a bad woman. and his lips compressed. his eyes darkened. with fixed determination. He would dis into this until he uncovered the truth; be would find out what dirty trick .Islack Bart" was up to.
 as he thought this out. not swiftly as recorded, but slowly, defDeratey, piecing the bits together within his mind. blindly feeling his way to a final conclusion, the boy had sunk back upon the Led. overcome with liquor, and fallen asleep. Keith stepped over. and looked down upoE him in the dim light He could recog- nize something of her features in the upturned face, and his eyes softened There was no use seeking again to arouse him; even had he been sober, he would not have talked freely. Keith lifted the dangling feet into a more comfortable position, turned the lamp lower, went out, and latched the door. Two men were tramping heavi- ly up the stairs. and they turned into the hall at the very moment he dis appeared within his own room. He still retained his grasp upon the latch, when a voice outside asked:
 What number did you say, Bill- 29?"
 Keith strengthened up as though suddenly pricked by knife; he could never forget that voice-it was flaw