Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-07-25
CHAPTER Xxx.
In christie's Room.

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Keith swept his glance up ana down
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 overtake
nowhere along that stretch of street,
illumined by window lights, was there
any sign of man and woman walking
together. He stopped, bewildered,
staring blindly about, failing utterly to
comprehend this mysterious vanishing.
What could it mean? What had hap
pened? How could they have disap-
peared so completely during that sim
gle moment he had waited to speak to
Fairbain? 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 bafaed-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
Or side, in the deeper shadows, and
thus reached the hotel more quickly
than 1t seemed to him possible! There
was barely chance that this could
be true. and yet Keith grasped at II
desperately. cursing himself for hav-
Ing wasted time Five minutes later.
GREATNESS. almost speeches. with
anxiety. he startled the clerk.
Has Miss Waite come in? Miss
Hope Waiter"
Blamed if l know" retorted the
other. indifferently. Cant for tho
life of me tell those two females apart.
One OF them passed through bout ten
minutes ago; Doc Fairbain was with
her. Another party just went up
stairs hunting Miss Maclaire, and as
they haven't como down, reckon 1t
must have been her-anythinE
wrong?"
I'm not sure yet" shortly. who
VAS this other nNrsone"
"Old fellow with white hair and
whiskers-swore like pirate-had
the sheriff along with him"
1t came to Keith in fash-it was
Waite. Perhaps Christie knew. Per
haps the General knew. Certainly
something Of Importance was crystal
liking 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 1t 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
IOSCu AClo WcI0 iii &C ucu pICS-
ent, and the woman. She stood clutch
ing the back of 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 It,"
Waite snapped out. with quick
glance at the newcomer 1T will make
It all the easier for you. tell you
this is the sheriff, and we've got you
: both dead to rights"
But" she urged, why should be
arrested? have done nothing"
You're an adventuress-a damn
adventuress-Hawle mistress. prob
ably-a-"
Now. see here, Waite" and Fair
balm swunS himself forward. you
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