The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-02-08
CHAPTER xxx.
In Christio's Room.

Keith swept his glance up ana dowA
the street without results. Surely
Hawley and his companion could not
have disappeared so suddenly. They
had turned to the right, he was Ger.
tain as to that, and he pushed through
the crowd Of men around the theater
entrance, and FASTENED to overtake
them. He found nothing to overtaks
nowhere along that stretch of street,
illumined by window lights, was there
any sign of a man and woman walking
together He stopped, bewildered,
staring blindly about, failing utterly to
What could it mean? What had hap.
pened? How could they have disap-
peared so completely during that sin.
gle moment he had waited to speak to
Fairbafn? The mans heart beat like
a trip-hammer with apprehension. a
sudden fear for Hope taking posses.
sion of him. Surely the girl would
never consent to enter any of those
dens along the way, and Hawley
would not dare resort to force in the
open street The very thought seemed
preposterous, and yet, with no other
supposition possible, he entered these
one after the other in hasty search,
questioning the inmates sharply, only
to find himself totally baffled-Hawley
and Hope had vanished as though
swallowed by the earth. He explored
dark passage-ways between the scat
tered buildings, rummaging about
recklessly, but came back to the street
again without reward.
Could they have gone down the 9TH
er side, in the deeper shadows, and
thus reached the hotel more quickly
than it seemed to him possible? There
was barely chance that this could
be true, and yet Keith grasped at 1t
desperately, cursing himself for hav-
ing wasted time Five minutes later,
breathless, almost speechless with
anxiety, he startled the cle--t.
Has Miss Waite come IN? G~ccs
Hope Waiter"
Blamed if / know" retorted the
other, indifferently. Cant for the
life of me tell those two females apart.
minutes ago; Doc Fairbain was with
her. Another party just went up
stairs hunting Miss Maclaire, and as
they haven't come down. reckon it
must have been her-anyth-ng
wrong?"
I'm not sure yet" shortly. who
was this other person?"
"Old fellow with white hair and
whiskers-swore like pirate-had
the sheriff along with him."
It came to Keith in a hash-it was
Waite. Perhaps Christie knew. Per
haps the General knew. Certainly
something of Importance was crystal
lizing in the actress room which
might help to explain all else. He
rushed up the stairs, barely waiting to
rap once at the closed door before he
pressed it open The sight within
held him silent, waiting opportunity
to blurt out his news. Here, also,
was tragedy, intense, compelling,
which for the instant seemed to even
overshadow the fate of the girl he
loved There were three men pres
ent, and the woman. She stood clutch
Ing the back of a chair, white-faced
and open-eyed, with Fairbain slightly
behind her, one hand grasping her
arm, the other clinched, his jaw set
pugnaciously. Facing these two was
Waite. and heavily built man wear
Ing brown beard, closely trimmed.
You'd better acknowledge II"
Waite snapped out, with quick
glance at the newcomer. ut will make
it all the easier for you. l tell you
this is the sheriff, and we've got you
both dead to rights"
But" she urged, why should be
arrested? I have done nothing"
You're an adventuress-a damn
dventuress-Hawley's mistress, prob
ably-a-"
Now, see here, Waite" and Fair
balm swung himself forward, you
drop that Miss Maclaire is my friend,
and if you say another word I'll smash
you, sheriff or no sheriff"
Waite glared at him
You old fool" he snorted, what
have you got to do with this?'
I've got this to do with, you'll find
the woman is to be treated with re-
spect or I'll blow your damned OBJ
stinate head off,"
The sheriff laid his hand on Waite's
shoulder.
Come" he said, firmly, this Is no
way to get at it. We want to know
certain facts, and then we can pro-
coed lawfully. Let me question the
woman"
The two older men still faced one
another belligerently. but Keith saw
Christie draw the doctor hack from
between her and the sheriff.
You may ask mo anything you
please" she announced, quietly. Il
am sure these gentlemen will not fight
In my room"
Very well, Miss Maclaire. It will
require only moment How long
have you known this man Hawley?"
Merely few days-since arrived
In Sheridan"
But you were in communication
with him before that?"
The pleasant voice and quiet de-
meanor of the sheriff seemed to yield