Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-08-22
CHAP XIV.
AGAIN Christie MseIalre.

Keith possessed sufficient means for
several months Of idleness. and even
Il be had not. his reputation as a
plains scout would insure him employ.
uent at any OF the more Important
scattered army posts. Reliable men
for such service were In demand. The
testlessness Of the various Indian
tribes. made specially manifest by
raids on the more advanced settle
uents. and extending over a constant
y widening territory, required conlin
u0us interchange OF communication
between commanders OF attachments
Bold and reckless spirits had nocked
to the frontier Ia those days follow
Ing the Civil War. yet all we're not OF
The type to encourage confidence In
Military authorities. Keith had al
ready frequently served In this ca
laclly. and abundantly proved his
worth under rigorous demands OF both
Endurance and Intelligence. and he
could feel assured OF permanent EN-
Payment whenever desired. Not a
few Of the more prominent officers he
had met personally during the late
var-including Sheridan. To HON be
had once borne a dag OF truce-yet
The spirit Of the C%onfederacy still lin.
seTed in his heart: not In any feeling
Of either hatred or revenge. but In an
uhTlllingness TO serve the blue uni
nrm. and a memory OF antagonisu
which would not entirely disappear
lie had surrendered at Appomattox
conquered. yet he could not quite ad
Just himself to becoming companion
lnarms with those against whom he
LAD fought valiantly for four years
soue OF the wounds OF that conflict
tul smarted. A natural soldier. anx
'ous to help the harassed settlers
eager enough TO be actively employed
he sui held aloof from army connec
uohs except as a volunteer In case o
emergency.
just now other considerations
caused him to desire freedom. III
naa been accused OF murder. impris
V"eu Tor II, and I'm order to escape
usu been compelled to steal horses
'ue most heinous crime OF the from
uu Not only for his own protec
"On ana safety must the truth OF tina
occurrence at the Cimmaron Crossing
" made clear. but he also had now
r'sonai affair with BLACK Bart" Haw
%' 10 be permanently settled. The!
lau already FLASHED twice. and Keitl
uended they should meet again.
memory Of the girl was still In hl
|'ua as he and Neb rode SILENT.
WIN on the black prairie, leading III,
A"a morse behind him. He endeay
Oeu 10 drive the recollection from hi
~'uu' so he might concentrate It upol
mans lot the future. but somehow sh,
@'sVerlously wove her own PERSONAL
,u'o those plans. and he was eve
uus 'he pleading in her eyes an,
enihs to the soft Southern accen
"er voice. or late years he ha,
rnu unaccustomed to association
wv" women of high type. and Their,
'hai touch of the gentlewomal
THIS girl which had awakene,
IN interest. or course he knew tina
,s,ue' case 1t was merely an inherI
,oase VI her past. and could not trul,
clmesent the present Christie Ma
aIe OF the music hxls. Howeve
/ No, uat'ng she might be. she coul,
~. oe worthy any serious considers
soo,., IN spite OF his rough life tn
MA. spirit of the old South was i'm
Tia, IN his blood. and no woman O
/ som. ''ass could hold him captive. Yel
/ Or i~ way. she refused to be banishe
hoo oehind. Even Neb must hav
ba oosessed by a similar spirit. TO
aruudenly observed:
Da' am sutt'nly a mighty fine ga
conSa Jack. ! amt seen nothin' I
rInI pare wild her since / quit oil VII
deed | amt"
ne,th glanced back at his biac
Ibs lte' barely able to distinguis
fellows dim outlines.
.ou think her a lady. then? ?" h
e'uoned. giving thoughtless uttel