The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-05
THE wATCHMAN AND souTHRoN, AUGUST s. 1911.

was quick enough TO accept the ad-
vantage. II was a risk 70 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 flight into
the Wild Comanche country extend
Ing beyond the Canadian She must,
at the very least. DO first returned to
the protection Of the standardization
along the Arkansas. After that had
been accomplished, he would consider
his own safety. He wondered II Hope
really was her name, and whether il
was the family cognomen. or her given
name. That she was Christie Maciaire
he had no question, yet that artistic
establishment was probably merely
assumed for the work Of the concert
hall. Both he and Hawley could
scarcely be mistaken as TO her identi-
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. Il was diflcult 70 as.
sociate 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
U.lx
puritanical views Of nfe-his own ex.
periences had been too rough and
democratic for that-yet he clung to-
nac1ously to an 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 his heart,
where dwelt alone the memory Of his
mother.
He found the other horses turned
into the corral, and was able. from
their restless movements, to decide
they numbered eight A fire, nearly
extinguished, glowed DULY at the
farther corner of the enclosure, and
he crewled close enough to distinguish
the recumSent forms of men sleeping
about It on the ground. Apparently
no guard had been set, the. fellows be-
fns 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 nre, 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. II 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 Il swiftly, riding
the captured animal while rounding
up the others. and fastening the three
to stupted trees on the opposite bank.
Everything within the cabin remained
exactly as he had left II, and he briefly
explained the situation. examing Haw.
ley's bonds again carefully while do
ing SO.
He'll remain there all right until
his men find him." he declared. posi-.
lively, "and that ought to give us a
good six hours start Come, Miss
Hope, every minute counts now"
He held her arm. not unconscious of
Its round shapeliness. as he helped her
down the rather steep bank through
the dense gloom. Then the two men
joined hanGs, and carrying her be-
tween them. waded the shallow
stream. The horses, not yet suffcIent.
ly rested to be frisky, accepted Their
burdens meekly enough, and. with
scarcely word spoken, the three rode
away silently into the gloom OF tho
night.