The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-16

CHAPTER xxxIll.


~ s<sAnosSsc0 mum " BxO8SoL oCtlViSy.
10 was clearly evident the fugitives
were sndsavoring with all rapidity
pcssibls 70 Get beyond where the hand
Of law could reach them-their trail
striking directly across the plains into
the barren southwest was proof Of this
purpose Yet II was scarcely likely
thsy would proceed very far In that
direction. - such oourss would
bring them straight into the heart OF
the Indian country. into greater dan
Ser than that from which they fed.
Keith felt no doubt, that Hawley IN
tended making for Carson City. where
No could securely hide the girl. and
where he possessed friends to rally
10 HIS defence. even an influence over
chs ofncen q the law. The one thing
which pushed him most was the
mans object In attempting 90 desper-
ate venture. Did he know his prisr
oner was Hope Wsitsf or did he still
suppose he was running OF with Chris
tie Maclairef Could some rumor Of
Wa1ts's appeal 70 the courts have
rs>schsd the gambler. frightened him.
an1 caused him TO attempt this der
psrate effort at escapef and did he
bear Miss Maclaire with him, hoping
20 keep her safely concealed until
hs was better prepared 10 come out In
open nghtr II this was the actual
state Of Affairs then Il would account
Tor much Otherwise hard TO explain.
The aotress would probably not have
besn missed. o.. at least seriously
0oughk aftsr. until she failed TO ap-
pear at the theatsr the following even
1ng. This delay would give the fu-
O1tivss . start Of twenty hours. or
even more and practically assure
eAstr safety. Besidss. In the light Of
Waite's application 20 the sheriR for
Anslstanos. Il was comparatively easy
eo conceive Of . valid reason why
6avlsy should vanish. and desire.
0kswiss. 70 take Miss Maclaire with
e1m- But there wss no apparent 90
assi<n for his forcibls abduction Of
8,pe. OF course. he might have done
- from Q suddenly aroused at Of an
Dsr at some discovery the girl had
ado. yet everything pointed rather
- deliberate plan. Both horses and
Osn were certainly waiting there un-
Aer orders. Hawlsy1 adhsrents IN
charge. and every arrangement per
0Dcted In advance Clearly enough
ehe gambler had planned IL all out
oefore hs ever went 70 the Troca-
1oro-no doubt tho completion OF
these 1nsi arrangements was what de-
1ayed his appearance at the hotel II
nis was all true. then II must have
been Christie. and not Hope, he pur-
Dosed bearing away with him. and the
latter wss merely q victim OF her maas-
ausrade.
What would result when the man
discovered his mistake? Such q dis
eovery could not be delayed long. a.
Enough the girl was Quick-witted. and
would surely realize that hor personal
safety depended upon keeping up tho
deception to the last possible moment
Yet the discovery must finally occur,
and there was no guessing what form
Hawley's rage would assume when he
found himself banned. and ell his
plans for fortune overturned. Keith
fully realized Hopes peril. and his
own helplcasness TO serve her In this
emergency was agony. AZ they hur-
fted back 20 the town, he briefly re-
viewed these conclusions with Waite
and fsirbain. all alike agreeing there
wss nothing remaining for them To do
exceIt TO take up the trail The fugi-
dives had already gained too great an
advantage TO be overhauled. but they
might be traced ~ whatever point
they were heading ior. In spite OF the
star, being so far To the west, Keith
Was 1rmly convinced that their destin-
attoG would prove to be Carson City.
Procs-'ns horses at the corral. their
Sorcen augmented by two volunteers-
both men OF experience-Keith. Waite,
Fsarhain and Neb departed without
eeiAS, not even pausing to eat but
taxing the necessary food with them.
The sun had barely risen when they
took up the trail. Keith. and a man
named Bristoe. slightly In advance,
tnsr Keen eyes marking every slight
sign left for guidance across the bare
plain IL was q comparatively easy
ouh 70 follow. leading directly into
sns southwest the pony tracks cutting
a9to he sod "a though tho reckless
uoer mad buncned together. heir
horses trottins rapidly. Evidently no
sftsmpt had becn made at conceal
msoS and this served 70 convince the
DurvuOrs that Hawiey still believed
his captive to DO Miss Maclaire. and
tha& Ter disappearanos would not be
snsps<ted until after nightfsn In
that case the trail could not bs die
covered before the following morn
tno. and with such q start, pursuit
would b useless. Tireless, steadily,
scarcsly speaking except upon the
busansss In hand, the pursosrs pressed
forward at an easy trot Keith. In spite
q Intense anxiety. with tho remem-