The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-02-08

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and seated her upon 1t. Then a match
Jared, casting an instant's CLEAN
across his face as he lighted his cigar.
Blacker than ever the night shut down
about them, and he CROPPED for seat
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 little
SILVER 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 q relief.
Il reckon, Christie" he said slowly,
between puffs on his cigar, tho lighted
end of which family illumined his
face, you've got the idea l have
brought you out 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 little backset, and
have got to make shift in our plans
"a mighty quick shift, too," he added,
almost savagely.
IL don't think l 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"
Obi" said Hope, not knowing
what else to say.
YES" he went on, apparently sat-
isfied with her exclamation. "Of
course, 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 substi-
tute. Do you happen to know any old
woman about the right age who would
make affidavit for you? She probably
wouldn't have to go on the stand at
ALL Waite will cave in as soon as he
knows we've got the evidence"
hut Ia
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, l know no one. But what do
you mean? l 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. /
thought all along could settle the en-
tire matter with Waite outside, but
the old fool won't listen to reason.
saw him twice today"
"Twice?" surprise wrung the word
from her.
Yes; thought l had got him Off on
false scent and out of the way, the
first time, but he turned up again like
. bad penny. What's worse, he's evi.
IDENTIFY stumbled on to bit of legal
information which makes it 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 is here tryin' to find me SO as
to serve the papers. I've got to skip
out, and so've you"
'I?" rising to her feet, Indignantly.
What have 1 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 case if 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. can get it in a
month, but he's got hold of something
"hASh SiNCo I'LL q lCNCIdSC. uOu =
know what it is-maybe it's just a
bluff-but the charge is conspiracy.
and he's got warrants out There is
nothing for us 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,
If the sheriff is hunting us, the trains
will be watched"
DO you suppose l am fool enough
to risk the trains?" he exclaimed
roughly, plainly losing patience Not
much; horses and the open plains tor
us, and good night the start of them
They will search for me first, and
you'll never be missed until you fail
to show up at the Troadero. Never
mind the clothes; they can be sent
after us"
Tonight" she cried, awakening to
the immediate danger, and rising to
her feet "You urge me to fly with
you tonight?-now?
Sure, don't be foolish and kick up
row. The horses are here waiting
just around the end of the ravine."
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