The Wagner leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-1912, 1912-02-09
AfALE OF THE NANs

across his face as lie lighted his cigar.
Blacker than ever the night shut down
about them, and he CROPPED for a seal
beside her. She could perceive just
one star peering through a rift OF
cloud, and in her nostrils was the
pungent odor of tobacco. With a little
shiver of disgust she drew slightly
away from him, dreading what was to
come. One thing alone she felt was
In her favor-However familiar Haw-
ley attempted to be, he was evidently
not yet sufficiently sure of Miss Mac
laire to become entirely offensive. She
might not have frowned at his love-
making, but apparently he had not
yet progressed sufficiently far in her
good graces to venture to extremes.
Hope pressed her lips together, de-
termined to resist any further ap-
preach Of the man. However, his
earliest words were a relief.
81 reckon, Christie" he said slowly,
between puffs on his cigar, the lighted
end of which family illumined his
face, you've got the idea / have
brought you but here to make love.
Lord knows I'd like to well enough,
but just now there's more important
matters on hand. Fact is, my girl,
we're up against a little back-set, and
have got to make a shift in our plans
"a mighty quick shift, too" he added,
almost savagely.
II don't think I understand"
mo, Of course, you don't. You i'm
agine all we've got to do in a matter
Of this kind is to step into the near
est court, and draw the money. One
trouble Is, our evidence isn't complete
we've got to find that woman who
brought you up"
"Oh!" said Hope. not knowing
what else to say.
YES" he went on, apparently sat
isfied with her exclamation. "Of
course, l know she's dead, or at least,
you say SO, but we haven't got enough
proof without her-not the way old
Waite promises to fight your claim
and SO we've got to hunt for a subst1-
tute. Do you happen to know any old
woman about the right age who would
make afidavit for you? She probably
wouldn't have to go on the stand at
al. Waite will cave In as DON as he
knows we've got the evidence"
He waited for an answer. but she
hardly knew what to say. Then she re
membered that Keith insisted that
Miss Maclaire had no conception that
there was any fraud in her claim.
mo, / know no one But what do
you mean? thought everything was
straight? That there was no question
about my right to inherit?"
We'll, there isn't, Christie" pulling
fiercely on his cigar. But the courts
are particular; they have got to have
the whole thing in black and white. I
thought all along l could settle the en-
tire matter with Waite outside, but
the old fool won't listen to reason. I
saw him twice to-day"
"Twice?" surprise wrung the word
from her.
Yes; thought I had got him OF on
q false scent and out of the way, the
first time, but he turned up again like
q bad penny. What's worse, he's evil
IDENTIFY stumbled on to a bit of legal
Information which makes 1t safer for
us to disappear until we can get the
links of our chain forged. He's taken
the case into court already, and the
sheriff il here tryin' to find me SO az
to serve the papers. I've got to skip
out, and so've you"
IT" rising to her feet, Indignantly.
What have done to be frightened
over?" !
He laughed, but not pleasantly.
"Oh, hell, Christie, can't you under
stand? Old Waite is after you the
same way he is me. It'll knock our
whole o II he can get you into
court before our evidence is ready.
All you know is what l have told you
that's straight enough-but we've
got to have proof. l can get 1t In .
month. but he's got hold of something
which gives him q leverage. ! don't
know what 1t is-maybe It's just q
blun-but the charge Is conspiracy.
and he's got warrants out There In
nothing for vi to do but skip"
But my clothes; my engagement"
she urged, feeling the insistent earn
estness Of the man. and sparring for
delay. why, l cannot go. Besides,
II the sheriff is hunting us, the trains
will be watched"
do you suppose I am fool enough
to risk the trains?" he exclaimed,
roughly, plainly losing patience. mot
much; horses and the open plains for
us. and q good night the start OF them.
They will search for me first, and
you'll never be missed until you fail
to show up ut the Troadero. Never
mind the clothes; they can be sent
after u.s."
Tonight" she cried, awakening to
the immediate danger, and rising to
her feet. "You urge me to ny with
you to-nighti-now?"
Sure. don't be foolish and kick up
= row. The hOraes ara here WAITING