Semi-weekly herald., 1911-07-17

hold.
you. Fairbainl What the devil does
this mean? What are you spying on
us for7"
Clearly taken aback, yet not greatly
disturbed, his eyes showing pugnaei-
Gus and his Jaw set. the Doctor rubbed
his throat where Keith's knuckles had
left red we'll
damn sou. think I'm the cne to
ask for an explanation" he growled
'she said she was not going with you.
anu now you are around here together
at this hour. had a right to know
whether was being played with like
that"
But. man. that was not Miss Mac
laire l was with; It was Hope Waite
Come back here under the tent dap
while I explain"
Fearful OF tho coming of Hawley
he fairly dragged the portly figure of
the bewildered Doctor with him,
striving, by quickly spoken words, to
make him comprehend the situation.
Knowing previously something OF the
issues involved, II was not dificult to
make Fairbain grasp the meaning of
this present movement. yet his sym
pathies were at once enlisted upon tho
side of Miss Christie He'd be damned
If he would have any part In such
scheme-if she had a right to the
money he'd help her got tit was
cowardly trick and he'd fight If noc-
essary, to keep her from becoming q
victim. His voice rcse. his arms
brandishIng violently, his sentences
swapping like rife shots Keith an
gerod. and fearful Of discovery
which would leave Hope exposed. real
lied the futlllty Of discussion and
turned to physical force Grasping the
Eesticulating man with both hands. he
flung him backward and dragged him
into tho empty tent, kneellng on him
as he throttled him to tho earth
Nov, Doctor, you listen to me-" he
said sternly I'm through arguing I
hate to treat you like this. for you are
my friend. but I'll not stand for inter
ference here. Do you get that, you
old fool? Lie still untl get through
respect your feelings toward Miss
Maclalre She is a good girl, and
hope 20 heaven you get her If you
want her But you never viii if you
permit this affair to 30 on. Yes, l
know what | am talking about In all
that Hope and do we are serving you
and Chrisue-our only fight Is with
Black Bart Hawley. Stop being
bulletheaded old fool, Fairbaln, and
understand this thing Lie sull, tell
you, and hear me outi Hawley is
liar, a thief. and swindler There
is swiudle in this thing somewhere,
and he hopes to pull out big sum of
money from It. He Is merely using
Christie to pull his own ehesmuts out
of the fire. She is innocent; we real
ize that, but this fellow is going to
ruin the girl unless we succeed In ex.
posing him. He's not only involving
her in his criminal conspiracy. but
he's making love to her. he's teaching
her to love him. That's part OF his
scheme, no doubt. for then she viii bo
so much easier handled / tell you.
Fairbain. your only chance to ever
win the interest OF Christie Maclaire
Is to help us down this fellow Haw-
ley. Yes, you can sit up; | reckon
you're beginning to see clearer. amt
your"
Keith drow aside the nap of the
tent TO glance without. the light fall
ing on Fairbanks face as he struggled
to sitting posture. He had had
new thought driven into him, yet
failed TO entirely grasp Its signifi-
cnnce.
But. Jack" he asked, still half
angry, how about the girl? Hasn't
she any right TO this money!
81 don't know" honestly. we don't
any of us know, but whatever she has
the right to she is going to get. You
can bet on that, old man. We're buck
ing Hawley. not Christie Maolaire-
get that into your head. He hasn't any
right, that's certain, for he murdered
and stole to get the papers-be quiet
Here the fellow comes nowl"
They peered out together through
the convenient tent flap, Fairbain
scarcely less interested than the 9th
er, already dlmly- y-comprehending that
his truly dangerous rival was the
gambler. and that he could best serve
the lady by helping to prove to her
the real character of that individual.
He was still blindly cropping in the
haze. yet out of Keith's sharp, sting
ing words there had come to him a
guiding light The latter gripped his
arm in restraint.
Easy, old man. easy-let him
pass"
Hawley turned into the alley whis-
Ting, evidently well pleased with the
situation and anticipating other dc
lights awaiting his coming. The glow
OF the Trocadero's lights served, an
instant, TO reveal his face. shaded by
the broad brim Of his hat and then
he vanished into the dark, Keith lean
ing far out. yet keeping well within
the shadows. heard the faint creak OF
the vestibule door aud the soft muir
mur of distant voices. Then he drew
back suddenly. his hand again grasp
ing Fairbaln. Two flgures-those OF
a man and woman-emerged into the
dim light, and as quickly disappeared.
Apparently her hand was upon his
arm, and he was bending down 80
as to gain a glimpse of the face par
tialiy concealed by the folds OF the