Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-02


you do know, Just the same Per.
haps not to an inch, or mile, but
you know near enough whero he is,
and where he has been since you left
! Sheridan"
IF do. I'm damned If III tell you"
mo? Well now, Hatchett, listen to
| me-" and Kelth's voice had in 1t tho
click Of a steel trap. You'll either
answer, and answer straight, or we'll
| hang you to that cottonwood in about
five minutes If you want a chance
| for your miserable life you answer
me. We have our way Of treating your
kind out in this country. Sit up, you
| brute! Now where did Hawley go aft
er he left you?'
ITO Fort Larncd."
After those fresh horses?"
"Yoe"
lie didn't bring them to you;
know that Where has he been SINCE"
"Toreky and Leavenworth,"
"Uow do You know"
He writ me note the boss herder
brought"
Hand It over"
Keith took the dirty slip of paper
the man reluctantly extracted from
his belt, and F'airbain lit matches
while he ran his eyes hastily over the
lines. As he ended he crushed the
paper between his fingers, and walked
away to the end of the corral. He
wanted to be alone. to think to decide
y "a, tt1I, .Lnt l., a.
Hawley. according to the schedule
just read. must have loft Larned alone
early the day before; this night he
would be camped at the water-hole;
with daybreak he expected to resume
bis lonely Journey across the desert
to the Salt Fork For years Keith had
lived a primitive life, and In some
ways his thought had grown print
| tive. His code Of honor was that OF
! the border tinged by that of the South
| before the war. The antagonism exist
ing between him and this gambler was
| personal, private, deadly-not an af-
! fair for any others-outsiders-t med
die with He could wait here and
| permit Hawley to be made captive
could watch him ride unexpectedly
| into the power of these armed men,
| and then turn him over to the law to be
dealt With The very thought nause-
ated him That would be towards
act. leaving a stain never to be eradi
Gated No, he must meet this as
became a man. and now, now before
Hope so much az dreamed of his pur-
pose-aye. and before he spoke an.
other word of love to Hope He
| wheeled about fully decided on his
course, his duty, and met Fairbain
face 10 face.
jack the latter said earnestly
Il read the note over your shoulder,
and Of course know what you mean
to do. 4 Southern gentleman could
not choose otherwise. But I've come
here 10 beg you to let me have the
chance"
"You?" surprised and curious
What greater claim on that fellows
life have you than -"
The pudgy hands Of the doctor
grasped the plainsman's shoulders
It's for Christie" ne explained
brokenly She was the one he tried
to run away with You-you know
how feel
Sure, | know" shaking the other
off. yet not roughly But II happen
ed TO be Miss Waite he took. and so
this is my job, Fairbain Besides. I've
r0t orothor score TO settle with him"
He wasted little time upon prepare.
t!ons-a few brief words of instruc-
ton TO Bristoe a request to the doc
tor not to leave Hope alone; the ex-
tracing of promise from the two
Bar x" men to return to Larned
with the prisoners. Then he roped
and bridled him, nnd went into the
cabin, She had light burning, and
met him AT the door.
Il thought you would never come.
but they told me you were unhurt.'
Not n scratch, little girl: we have
been lucky bunch. But l have had
q great deal to look after Now !
shall lie obliged to ride ahead as far
as the water-hole, and let you come
on 9TH the others a little later, after
YOU get breakfast You can spare me
n few hours can't yOu?"
Ills tone was full Of good humor,
and his lips smiling, yet somehow she
felt her heart sink, an inexplicable
fear finding expression in her eyes.
'rBut--but why do you need to GOT
Couldn't some Of the othersT
There Is a reason which I Will e1
plain later" he said. more gravely
Surely you can trust me, Hope. and
ieel that ON only doing what II
Gems absolutely necessary for me tc
do?' no heat down and kissed her
TT vii. be only FOR = tow hours, and
no cause :or worry. Goodbye now
until We nee, Tonight Mt the water
hole"
The east WAS gray with coming day
light as he rode splashing across the
5tream and up the opposite bank. She
watched him, rubbing the binding
mist from her eyes, until horse anc
man became a mere dark speck final
~ fading away completely Into the
dull plain of the desert,
cLApTEQ xxYNI