The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-05
CHAPTER XIV.


Again Christie Maeialre.
Keith possessed sufficient means for
several months of idleness, and even
II he had not. his reputation as a
plains scout would insure him employ.
ment at any Of the more important
scattered army posts. Reliable men
Tor such service were In demand. The
restlessness Of the various Indian
tribes. made specially manifest by
raids on the more advanced settle
ments. and extending over q constant.
ly widening territory. required contin-
uous interchange Of communication
between commanders of detachments.
Bold and reckless spirits had hocked
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.
pacity. and abundantly proved his
worth under rigorous demands OF botn
endurance and intelligence. and he
could feel assured Of permanent en-.
ployment whenever desired. Not q
few OF the more prominent oficers he
had met personally during the late
war-including Sheridan. to whom he
had once borne q nag Of truce-yet
the spirit Of the Confederacy still lin
gered In his heart; not In any feeling
Of either hatred or revenge. but IN an
unwillingness to serve the blue uni.
form, and Q memory Of antagonism
which would not entirely disappear.
He had surrendered at Appomattox.
conquered. yet he could not quite ad.
just himself to becoming companion.
in-arms with those against whom he
had fought valiantly for four years.
Some Of the wounds of that conflict
still smarted. A natural soldier. anx.
ious TO help the harassed settlers,
eager enough to be actively employed.
he stifi held aloof from army conneo-
tions except a. q volunteer In case Of
emergency.
Just now other considerations
caused him to desire freedom. He
had been accused OF murder. impris.
oned for II. and In order to escape,
had been compelled to steal horses,
the most heinous crime of the from.
tier. Not only for his own protec.
ton and safety must the truth OF that
occurrence at the Cimmaron Crossing
be made clear. but he also had now q
personal affair with Black Bart" Haw.
ley to be permanently settled. They
had already clashed twice. and Keith
Intended they should meet again.
Memory of the girl was still In his
mind as he and Neb rode silently
forth on the black prairie. leading the
extra horse behind him. He endeav.
o.ei to drive the recollection from his
mind. 90 he might concentrate II upon
plans for the future. but somehow she
mysteriously wove her own PERSONAL.
ty into those plans. and he was ever
seeing the pleading In her eyes, and
listening to the soft Southern accent
OF her voice. OF late years he had
been unaccustomed to association
with women Of high type, and there
was that touch OF the gentlewoman
about this girl which had awakened
deep interest. or course he knew that
In her case 1t was merely an inhert
lance OF her past. and could not truly
represent the present Christie Ma.
claire OF the music halls. However
fascinating she might be, she could
not be worthy any serious considera-
ton. In. spite Of his rough life the
social spirit Of the old South was I'm
planted In his blood, and no woman of
that class could hold him captive. Yet,
some way. she refused to be banished
or left behind. Even Neb must have
been obsessed by similar spirit, for
he suddenly observed:
Dat am sutt'nly a mighty fine gal.
Massa Jack. amt seen nothin' TO
compare wild her since quit OIL Vir-
ginia-'deed I amt"
Keith glanced back at his black
satellite, barely able to distinguish
the fellows dim outlines.
You think her q lady, then ?" he
questioned. giving thoughtless utter.
ance to his own imagination.
Deed does." the thick voice
somewhat indignant II reck'n /
KNOWS de real quality when sees II.
Ise 'sociated wild quality white folks
befo'."
But. Neb. she's singer In dance
halls"
i don't believe II, Massa Jack"
Well. | wouldn't IL could help IL.
sne dont seem like that kind but
recognized her as soon as | got her
race In the light. She was at the
Gaiety In Independence. the last time