Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-14

"l-I Accept Any Terms You Desire"
not ask him to sit here because. II
you do not object, we will eat here
together | have also been almost
as long without food. It was SO lone
ly here, and-and I hardly understood
my situation-and | simply could not
force myself to eat
He distinguished her words clearly
enough, although she spoke low, as II
she preferred what was said between
them should not reach the ears of the
negro, yet somehow, for the moment,
they made no adequate impression on
him. Like famshed wolf he began
on the coarse fare and for ten min
utes hardly lifted his hoSd. Then his
eyes CHANGED to meet hers across the
narrow table and instantly the gen
tleman reawoke to life.
Il have been perfect brute he ac-
knowledge frankly. with no thought
except for myself. Hunger was my
master, and l ask your forgiveness.
Miss Maclaire.
Her eyes smiled.
81 am so very glad to have any one
here-any one-in whom | feel even
little confidence-that nothing else
greatly matters. Can you both eat.
and isten?"
Keith nodded, his eyes full of inter
est searching her face.
Whoever | may be, Mr. Keith, and
really that seems only Of small i'm
portance, | came to Fort Larned seek
/ ing some trace OF my only brother,
whom we last heard from there. VIII ere
he had fallen into evil compGnionship.
/ On the stage trip was fortunate
enough to form an acquaintance with
a man who told me he knew where |
could meet Fred, hut that the boy was
hiding because of some trouble he
had lately gotten into, and that |
should have to proceed very carefully
so as not to lead the officers to dis
cover his whereabouts. This gentle
man was engaged In some business ut
Carson City, but he employed wcn
to bring me to this place, and Pc
ised to get Fred. and meet me here iNt
following day. There must have been
some failure In the plans, for | have
been here entirely alone now for three
days. 1t has been very lonesome, and
and I've been a little frightened
l am not certain what kind of a place
this is. l was so afraid when YOU
came. hut I am not afraid now"
YOU have no need to be-" he sale
so5crly, Impressed by the innocen
csndcr of the girl, and feeling thank
ful that he vas present to aid her. ="
could net wrong one Of the South"
My father always told me coul'
trust a Southern gentleman under an
circumstances. MIR. Hawley was from
M own State ard knew many Of ou
Cd friends. That was why felt sucl
unusual confidence in him, although
he was but travelling acquaintance
"Mr. Hswlcy?'
THE gentleman whom | net on tn
stage
oh veg; you said he was in busi
moss in Carson City, but don't seen
to remember any one o! that name"
"fIc was not there permanently
only TO complete some business doal,
And your brother? may pcpsib
have known him"
She hesitated an instant, her eye
dropping, until completely shaded b
> TIE long lashes.
"He-he was rather q wild boy, an
. ran away from homo TO enlist In tn
army. But he got into a bad set, an
l and deserted, That was part of tn
trouble which caused him to hide. II
enlisted under the name Of Fred WI
r loughby. Mr. Hawley told me thi
much, but am afraid he did not tie
me all"
And he said you would meet hi
u here?"
Keith gazed about the bare su
roundings wonderingly. What wa
y this place. hidden away in the mid'
OF the desert, isolated in a spot whei
.. not even Indians roamed. Could it
T. a secret rendezvous OF crime, III
headquarters of desperadoes, OF ca
Il tie rustlers, Of the highwaymen OF II
q sante Fe Trail-a point to which the
u could ride when hard pressed, ce
tain Of hiding here In safety? He
gan to suspect this, but, II so. WI
then was this Hawley, and with VIII
object had he sent this girl here
Every way he turned was to control
"a mystery. to face a new puzzla Wha
a ever she might be-even the mus
"A hall singer he believed-she had bee
ar inveigled here innocently enoug
- Even now she possessed only the mo
70 vague suspicion that she had been d
"A ceiyed. The center Of the whole pic