Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-07-25
CHAPTER XXI.
An Interruntsd Interview

e.
with manifest dissatisfaction on the
bare walls Of her room, and then out
through the open window into the
comparative quiet street below. Tho
bartender at the Palace" directly
opposite. business being slack. was
leaning negligently in the doorway.
His rowing eyes caught the fair face
framed In the window. and he waved
his hand encouragingly Miss Chris
ties brown eyes stared across at him
in silent disgust. and then wandered
again about the room, her foot tapping
nervously on the rag carpet.
TITS my very last trip to this town"
she said decisively, her red lips
pressed tightly together
Miss Maclaire had indeed ample
reason to feel aggrieved over her re-
ception. She had written to have the
best apartment in the house reserved
for her, and then. merely because she
had later been invited out to Fort
Hays. and was consequently a day be-
hind in arrival. had discovered that
another woman-a base imposter. act
ually mRsquerading under her name
had been duly installed IN the coveted
apartment Driving in from the fort
that morning, accompanied by two Of
the more susceptible Junior officers,
conscious that she had performed
most artistic work the evening before
in the spacious mess-hall, and feeling
confident Of comfortable quarters
awaiting her. It had been something OF
a chnnlr ~ ~, &c
turbed clerk that "15" was already
occupied by another "a lady what
come In last night, and naturally
supposed It was you
In vain Miss Maclaire protested,
ably backed by the worshipful officers
who stin CALAMITY attended her; the
management was obdurate. Then she
would go up herself, and throw the
hussy out. Indeed, too angry for
bantering further words, Christie had
actually started for the stairs, intend
Ing to execute her threat, when the
perspiring Tommy succeeded in stop
ping her, by plainly hurting out the
exact truth.
Don't you ever do It," he insisted.
The marshal brought her in here,
and fired a fellow out o. the room so
as to give 1t to her. He'd clean out
this house If We ran in a cold deck on
6 friend O. his
What do I care for what your
marshal does?"
But he's Bill Hickock, Miss, VIVID
Bill"
Miss Maclaire leaned back against
the stair-rail, her eyes turning from
Tommy to her speechless supporters.
Slowly the truth seemed to penetrate
her brain.
oh" she gasped at last Then
then what else can you give me?"
The officers had long since depart
ed, promising, however, to remain
over in town and hear her again that
night at the Trocadero, with hints as
to late supper; she had received a
call from the manager of that most
popular resort, and had rendered his
! life miserable by numerous demands;
had passed half an hoIr practicing
with the leader of the orchestra; but
now was at last alone, tired, decided
ly irritable, and still tempted to in
| NdNC IL, anu SANC thot ONhOA NOAAAeAA
piece of her mind Then some one
raped on the door. There was a de-
cided accent of vexation In the voice
which babe the one outside enter. but
the lady's mood changed swiftly as
her brown eyes perceived standing in
the doorway the erect form of Keith,
the light from the window revealing
clearly his strong face. The man
stood hat in hand, bowling slightly, IN
able to comprehend why he should
have been sent for, yet marvelling
again at the remarkable resemblance
between this woman and that other
whom he had left at Fort Larnod. AS
Miss Maclaire stood with back toward
the window, she presented the same
youthful appearance, the same slen-
derness of figure, the same contour of
face.
Miss Christie Maclaire?" he asked,
as though in doubt.
YES" graciously, won instantly by
the mans appearance and manner,
you wished to see me? VIII you be
seated?"
He crossed the narrow room to the
| SUI cnalr lnulcateQ, ana the
lady sank negligently down into her
own, resting her head against a pill
low, and regarding him expectantly.
He could view her now much more
distinctly, observing the slight differ
ence in age. the fuller lips, the darker
shade o. the hair, and the varied ex-
preston of the eyes, It was as If q
different soul had looked forth from
the same face. He had never before
realized how little, apparently trifling
details marked the human counter
ance and, embarrassed by her own
scrutiny, his glance swept about the
room Misunderstanding this shifting
OF eyes, Miss Christie sought to place
the man more at ease.
"The room is a perfect fright" she
observed briskly, but what can one
expect in these mushroom towns
Really I mad never been here before
or l shouldn't have come. They pay
good money though for talent. and
we all have to live, you know Are
are you in professional work."
c,otnDx