Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-21

Sure; that isn't much Of trip
Tor spirited girl. She got It In her
head from your letters that you were
In trouble, and set out to find you
and bring you home. She didn't tell
mo this, but that is the way heard 1t.
1t was for her sake l came in here.
Why not go to her, Willoughby, ana
then both of you return to Missouri?
The sulenness had gone out of the
boys face; be looked tired, discour-
ag0l.
where is Hopper" he asked.
Fort Larned, | suppose. She went
to Carson City first"
We'll, that settles It," shaking his
head. You don't suppose | could 60
browsin' round Larned, and not get
snapped up do you? They don't chase
deserters very far out here, but that's
the post skipped from, and they'd
jug me all right. Besides, I'm damned
If I'll go back until get q stake.
want to sec fellow first"
What fellow?"
We'll, it's Hawley. II you want to
know so bad. He said II I would come
here and wait for him he'd put me on
to good thing"
The boy fldgeted along the edge OF
the bed evidently half ashamed OF
himself, yet obstinate and unyielding.
Keith sat watching his face, unable to
evolve any means Of changing his de-
cision. Hawley's influence just at
preser,. WAS greater than Hopes, be-
cause the lad naturally felt ashamed
to go sinking home penniless and de-
feated. His pride held him to Hawley,
end his faith that the man would re-
deem his promise Keith understood
all this readily enough, and conpre-
hendcd also that If BLACK Bart" had
any use for the boy it would be for
some criminal purpose. What was it2
Was there a deeply laid plot back OF
all these preparations involving both
Willoughby and his sister? What
was it Hawley was scheming about so
carefully. holding this boy dsserter
in one hand, while he reached out the
other after Christie Maclaire? Surely
the man was not working blndly; he
must have a purpose in view. Will
, loughby had acknowledged he had told
, the fellow something once when he
was drunk-about hts family history,
, no doubt, for he had shown him
. Hopes picture. What that family
secret was Keith had no means Of
guessing. but Hnwley, the moment hs
saw the face on the CT rdboard, had
evidently recognized Christie Maclaire
, had thought Of some way In which
x-h he ~ =
, 10 advantage. The few scattered facts
which Keith had collected all seemed
to point TO such onclusion-IGawley
, had sent the boy to Sheridan, where
he would be out of sight. with orders
, to wait for him there, and the prom
ise OF stake" to keep him quiet
, Then he had gone to Independence
and Topeka seeking after Christie
Maclaire. Evidently he meant to keep
the two apart until he had gained
, from each whatever It was he
!. sought. But what could that be?
, What family secret could Willoughby
have blurted out In his cups, which
= had so stimulated the gamblers wits
, Two things com bined to cause
, Keith to determine he would uncover
this rascality-his desire to repay
Hawley. and his interest in the girl
rescued on the Salt Fork. This gossa.
, mer web of intrigue into which he had
stumbled unwittinsly was nothing to
, him personally; had It not involved
both Hawley and Miss Hope, he would
, have left 1t unsolved without another
thought. But under the circumstances
:, It became his own battle. There wal
n crime here-hiddsn as yet, and
> probably not consummated-involv
wrong, perhaps disgrace. to the young
:. girl. He had rescued her once from
out the clutches Of this man, and he
had no intention OF deserving her now
=. Whatever her life might be, she wa.
- certainly an innocent victim in thii
, case. deserving his protection. Tha
, memory came to him of her face up
!, turned toward him In that little room
!, of the Occidental. her eyes tear
!, dimmed. her lips asking him to com,
back to her again. He could not be
,. Neve her q bad woman, and his lipI
. compressed, his eyes darkened, viii
=, fixed determination. He would dill
=, into this until he uncovered the truth
;. he would find out what dirty tricl
BLACK Bart" was UP to.
, As he thought thts out, not swift,
b ss seeeraea, bit slewiy, deliberately
c fieelhs the bits together wItAiA al
mihd, biihaly feeling bis way IA
" hHAl eeheiBsieA, the boy had sttal
IS back epeA the bed. eversems viii
10 iiques, aas fallen ASLEEP, Keisl
stepped aver, and !eeked dewn uee,
him in the dim light He eeu!d reeas
e. Mae semetAias Of her features In Ia
o upturAed face. ara bis eyes reftsnst
There was no uss seeking ssa1A b
arouse hilai even HAD he heea sobel
IS he would not have talked freely
Keith l!fted TIA dangling feet into
moro comfortable position. turned tn
to lamp lower, went out, and latahsd Ia
~ door Two mon ware trauping heAv
ly UP tho stairs, and they turned Int
nj the hall at tho very moment he dil
la appeared within his own room. X
50 sull retained his grasp upon the lAtci
whom voice outside asked:
bs What number did you say. Bill
III 2sY"
ID Keith Strengthened up as thong
suddenly pricked by q knife; he coul
Id never forget that votoe--it was HaV