The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1911-10-27
XIV.
AGAIN Christie Maclaire.

Ke7Uh possessed sufficient means for
several months of idleness. and even
II he had not. his reputation as a
plains scout would insure him employ
meps at any of the more important
scattered army posts. Reliable men
for ssch service were in demand. The
-restsessness of the various Indian
tribes. made specially manifest by
raids On the more advanced settle
ments. and extending over a constant
ly widening territory. required ccntin'
uous interchange Of communication
between commanders of attachments.
Bold and reckless spirits had Hooked
to the frontier in those days follow
Ing the Civil War, yet all were not of
the TYPE to encourage confidence in
military authorities. Keith had al
ready frequently served in this ca.
pacIv. and ~abundantly proved his
worth snder rigorous demands of both
enuuea nce and intelligence. and he
could feel assured of permanent en-
~ploynnent whenever desired. Not a
few OF the more prominent officers he
had met personally during the late
w~ar-including Sheridan, to whom he
had cnce borne a flag of truce-yet
the spirit of the C~onfederacy still lin
gered in his heart; not in any feeling
OF either hatred or revenge. but in an
unwiiNnguess to serve the blue uni
form. and a memory of antagonism
which would not entirely disappear
He rad surrendered at Appomattox
conepsred, yet he could not quite ad
Just himself to becoming companion
in.arans with those against whom he
had tsught %valiantly for four years
Some OF the wounds Of that coni1ic
stiF sraarted. A natural soldier, anx
ious 10 help the harassed settlers
eager enough to be actively employed
he ss;i held aloof from army connec
tons except as a volunteer in east o
emergency.
Jusa now other consideration
caused him to desire freedom. H
had been accused of murder. impr's
oned for 1t, and In order to escape
had beer compelled TO steal horses
the most heinous crime of the fror
tier. Not only for his own protet
ton and safety must the truth of tha
occurrence at the Cimmaron Crossin
be made clear. but he also had now
personal affair with BLACK Bart" Hav
ley to be permanently settled. The
had already clashed twice. and Keit
intended they should meet again.
Meu.ery OF the girl was still in h
mind as he and Neb rode silent
forth on the black prairie. leading tt
extra horse behind him. He endea
ered No drive the recollection from h
mind. SO he might concentrate il upc
plans TOR the future, but somehow 81
mysteriously wove her own persona
ty into those plans. and he was ev'
seeing the pleading in her eyes. al
listening to the soft Southern acce
been unaccustomed to associate
with women of high type. and the
was that touch of the gentlewom,
abort this girl which had awaken
deep interest. OF course he knew tn
in hsr east vt was merely an inhe
lance Of her past, and could not trr
represent the present Christie N
claic Of the music halls. Howey
Fascinating she might be. she col
not be worthy any serious constde
ton. In spite Of his rough life I
social spirit of the old South was
planted in his blood. and no woman
thai class could hold him captive. Y
some way. she refused to be Danish
or tsft behind. Even Neb must ha
been obsessed by a similar spirit.
he suddenly observed:
Dat am ~sutt'nly a mighty fine {
Massa Jack. | amt seen nothin'
compare wild her since ! quit oil Y
~ginia-'deed ! amt"
Keith glanced back at his biz
satellite. barely able to dlstingu
the fellows dim outlines.
"You think her a lady. then?"
questioned, swing thoughtless utt