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

a gentleman I never came here ex-
cept on your promise to bring me to
my brother" and she stood erect be-
fore him. "You have no right to even |
assume that am Christie Maclaire."
I Sure not; I don't assume. I have
seen that lady too often to be mis- |
taken. Don't try on that sort OF thing |
with me--I don't take to It kindly.
Perhaps a kiss might put you in bet
ter humor."
/ He took a step forward, as though
proposing to carry out his threat, but
the girl stopped him, her eyes burn
ing with Indignation.
"--.- d-"n wont" she exclaimed ~
sionateiy all fear leaving her IN 80
den resentment. you think me alone
here and helpless; that you can Insult
me at your pleasure. Don't go too
far. Mr. Hawlsy. know what you
are now. md Il makes no difference
what you may think Of me, or call me;
you'll md mo perfectly able to defend
myself"
"Oh, indeed" sneeringly. you are
meiodramatic; you should have been
an actress instead of q singer But
you waste your talent out here on me.
Do you imagine fear either you, or
your precious brother? Why, could
have him hung tomorrow"
She WIS staring at him with wide
open eyes, her face white.
''What-what do you mean? What
has Fred done?"
He was cold and sarcastic.
NH1$
what I could induce men to swear
he had done. It's easy enough to
convict In this country, II you only
know how. / simply tell you this, so
you won't press me too hard. Puri-
tanism is out OF place west Of the Mis-
souri,. especially among ladies' of your
profession. Oh come, now, Christie.
don't try to put such airs on with me.
I know who you are, all right. and
can guess why you are hunting after
Fred Wiloughby. l pumped the boy,
' and got most OF the truth out of him"
!. "You-you have seen him, then.
:. since you left me-" she faltered. be-
D wildered, and didn't bring him here
, with you?"
, why should II" and the man stepped
o forward, his eyes on her. bis
4 hands twitching with desire to clasp
4 her to him. yet restrained by some I'M
:. definable power while l believed
o your brother story, | could have play
/. ed the good Samaritan most beautiful'
( ly but after talked with Willoughby
q prefer him at distance"
a My brother story. Do you mean
e to insinuate you doubt his being my
II brother? He told you that?'
q He gave up the whole trick. You
4 can't trust kid like that, Christie. A
a couple Of drinks will loosen his ton
q que, and put you in wrong. Come. now
n know It all; be reasonable
Apparently the girl had lost hel
r. power of speech staring blindly at the
It face OF the man before her, as a birt
q meets the slow approach of snake
y Keith could see her lips move, but
Ia making no sound. Hawley evidently
n. interpreted her silence as hesitation
70 doubt as to his real meaning.
g You see where you are at now
~ Christie" he went on swiftly. Blu
Ia you don't need to be afraid. I'm going
h. to be a friend to you, and you can bt
ID mighty glad you got rid Of Willough!
I'd SO easily. Why, l can buy you dia
q. monds where he couldn't give you 1
N calico dress, Come on, let's stop this
le foolshness. took liking to you
49, back there In the stage, and the more
,e I've thought about you since thu
he crazier I've got When succeeded il
n pumping Willoughby dry, and discov
cred you wasn't his sister at ALL VIII,
that settled the matter. | came down
here after you. love you, do you TN
n derstand that And. what's more.
SIS intend to have you"
id He reached out, and actually grasp
is ed her. but, in some manner, she tor
loose, and sprang sack around tn
%. end OF the table, Eer cheeks flushed
N. her eyes burning.
Don't touch me, don't dare touc
Mt mel" she painted. You lie; Fred Wi
*. loughby never told you that. If yo
come one step nearer, I'll scream; II
Nv call your men here; I'll tell them tn
N kind OF a cur you are"
he He laughed, leaning over towar
lr. her, yet hesitating, his eyes full of &C
Fe miration Her very fierceness appeale
IS. to him. urged him on.
ad "Oh, | wouldn't. In the first plac
ye they probably wouldn't hear, for the
are camped down In tt., corral. SUI
he pected you might be something of
tigress, and preferred to fight 1t OF
he with you alone. Then, even II the
all did hear, there would be no int
,st ference-I've got those fellows traine
vs. too we'll for that Come on. Christie
TO you're helpless here"
Am II"
he Yes, you are"
IRE He took a step toward her. his HAND
m flung out. With one quick movemeI
lar she sprang aside and extinguished tn
mr. lamp, plunging the room into instar
he darkness. A few red Goals glove
o,s DULY in the fireplace, hut all else wa
lor dense blackness. Keith heard III
Mr. movements OF Hawley, as he felt h
ba was uncertainty along the tabl
,.d swearing as he failed TO find the gil
nd Then, like a shadow, he glided throus
i'm the partly open door into the room.
Ing
the CHAPTER XII,
wn
lis. The Flight In the Dark.
ho uyitb M