Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-07-25
,pyright. A c. Mcclurg & Co.. 1900

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 back from
between her and the sheriff.
You may ask me anything you
please she announced quietly. Il
am sure these gentlemen will not fight
in my room
Very well, Miss Maclaire. 1t will
require only a 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
the girl confidence and courage.
Eyes, he had written me two or
three letters"
you met him here then by appoint
ment?"
He was to come to Sheridan, and
explain to me more fully what his let
tiers had only limited at
You possessed no previous knowl-
edge of his purpose?"
Only the barest outline-details
were given me later"
will you tell us briefly exactly
what Hawley told you?"
The girls bewildered eyes wandered
from face to face, then returned to
the waiting sheriff.
'May-may sit down." she asked
Most certainly; and don't be afraid,
for really we wish to be your friends"
She sank down into the chair, and
even Keith could see how her slender
form trembled. There was a mo-
ment's silence.
Believe me, gentlemen" she began,
falteringly. If there Is any fraud. any
conspiracy, have borne no conscious
part In 1t. Mr.. Hawley came to me
saying dying man had left with him
certain papers, naming one. Phyllis
Gale. as heiress to very large estate
in North Carolina. left by her grand
father in trust. He said the girl had
been taken West, when scarcely two
years old, by her father in a fit of
drunken rage. and then deserted by
him in st. Louis
"You-you saw the papers?" Waite
broke in.
Yes, those that Hawley had; he
gave them to me to keep for him."
She crossed to her trunk. and came
back, MANILA envelope in her hand.
Waite opened 1t hastily, running his
eyes over the contents.
The internal scoundrel!" he ex-
claimed, hotly. These were stolen
from me at Carson City"
Let me see them" The sheriff
ran them over merely glancing at the
endorsements.
Just as you represented, Waite"
he said, slowly. "A copy of the will,
your commission as guardian, and
memoranda of Identification. Well,
Miss Maclaire, how did you happen to
be so easily convinced that you were
the lost girl?"
Mr.. Hawley brought me picture
which he said was Of this girls half
sister; the resemblance was most
startling. This, with the fact that
have never known either father or
mother or my real name, and that my
earlier life was passed in st. Louis,
suffced to make me believe he must
be right"
"You-you-" Waite choked, lean
Ing forward. you don't know your
real name?"
mo. do not" her lips barely form
ing the words. Tho woman who
brought me up never told me-"
"Who-who was tho .woman?"