The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-04-05
CHAPTER XXI.
Falrbaln and Christie.

ed TO the woman they had left alone
Mt the hotel He could not as yet
fully grasp the situation, but he re
mained loyal to the one oyerpOwertng
truth that he loved Christie Maclaire.
Fairbanks nature was rough. orig
inal, YET loyal to the core. He had
lived all his life long IN army camps,
and upon the frontier and his code
on honor was extremely simple 1t
never once occurred to him that Chris
ties profession was not OF the high
est, or that her life and associations
in any way untitled her for the future,
To his mind she was the one and only
woman His last memory of her, as
the little party Of men fled out OF
that room haunted him until he fin
ally dropped out OF the search and
drifted hack toward the hotel
It was late hour, yet It was hard
ly likely the woman had retired. Her
excitement, her interest in the pursuit.
would surely prevent that; moreover,
he was certain he saw a light still
burning In her room. as he looked up
from the black street below Never
theless he heeitated, uncertain OF his
reception, hlnG, emphatic. never
| afraid 10 face man in his iiiu, his
heart now beat heroely as he ondeav'
ored TO muster the necessary eour-
age Fur down the DARK street some
roysterer fred g shot. and sudden fear
lest no might be- sought after profess
sionally sent the doctor hurriedly
within, and up the stairs, He stood,
Just outside her door. quaking like q
child, the perspiration beading his
forehead, but light sreamed
through the transom, and he could
| plainly hear movements within. At
last, in sudden spasm of courage,
he knocked softly. Even In that noisy
spot she heard instantly, opening the
| door without hesitation, and standing
fully dressed within She was no
longer discouraged, sobhing girl.
but an aroused, intent woman. into
whose pathetic, lonely life there had
come new hope She appeared
/ younger, fairer, with the light SHIN
mering in her hair and her eyes smil-
ing welcome
"oh, Doctor.'S and her hands were
thrust out towards him, 81 am glad
you have come Somehow, thought
You would, and have wanted so TO
talk to some one-to you"
ITO me Do you really mean that,
| Miss Christie?''
Yes, | really mean that. you great
bear OF man? and the girl laughed
lightly, dragging him into the room
and closing the door why, who else
could expect to come tonight You
We're the only one really good to me.
You-you acted as II you believed in
me all the tlme-"
Il did. Christie; you bet did, .
broke in the delighted doctor. every
nerve tingling I'D "a cleaned out
that whole gang If you'd only said
so, but reckon now il was better to
let them tell all they knew 1t was
like a thunder storm clearing the at
mosphere."
..oh, 1t was, indeed! Now know
who am-who ami Isn't that sim
ply glorious? Sit down, Doctor Fair.
balm, there In the big chair where
/ can see your face. want to talk, talk.
talk; ! want to ask questions, thou
sand questions; bat 1t wouldn't do any
good to- ask them of you, would It?
You don't know anything about my
family, do your
Not very much. am afraid, only
that you have got an almighty pretty
half-sister." admitted the man, EN-
phaticaity, rand old Waite possesses
the vilest temper ever given hui
man being. He's no blood kin to you,
though"
NO. but he is awfully good under
! meath. isn't he'"
Got heart Of pure gold. old
Waite. Why, I've seen him cry like
baby over one of his men that got
hurt"
Have you known him. then. for a
long while:'
Ever since the Spring Of 81. |
was brigaded with him all through the
| WIT, ana nhn 10 cut Uullet UT ~
out Of HE hide before It ended. II
there was ever fight Willis Waite
was sure to get his share He could
swear some then, but he's improved
since. and reckon now he could like
ly Claim the championship"
"Did-did you know my mother
also?" and Christie leaned forward,
her eyes suddenly grown misty. 81
haven't even the slightest memory
of her"
The doctors heart was tender, and
he was swift to respond, reaching
forth and grasping the hand nearest
him. He had made love before, yet
somehow this was different; he felt
half afraid of this woman, and itlhwas
a new sensation altogether. and not
unpleasant.
II saw her often enough In those
days. but not since. She was frequent
ly in camp. very sweet:faced WON