Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-07-19
CHAPTER xl.-(continued.)

The action has only really begun,
he assured her, still retaining his hold
upon her hand. This was merely a
preliminary skirmish, and you must
prepare to bear your part In what
follows. We have settled Mr.. Hawley
for the present, and now must deal
with his gang"
"Oh, what would | have done II you
bad not been here?"
Let us not think about that; we
were here, and now have busy night
before US if we get away safely. Give
me the rope first. Good! Here, Neb,
you must know how to use this-not
too tight, but without leaving any play
to the arms; take the knife out of his
belt. Now for the cloth. Miss
Maclaire.'
please do not call me that"
But you said it didn't make any
difference what | called you"
81 thought it didn't then, but it does
now"
"Oh, see; we are already on new
iOStiiiS' ASt Gail yOu SOiuC
thing"
She hesitated just long enough for
him to notice it, Either, she had no
substitute ready at hand. or else doubt
ed the advisability of confiding her
real name under present circumstances
to one SO nearly stranger.
you may call me Hope"
"A name certainly of good omen,"
he returned From this moment
shall forget Christie Maclaire, and re-
member only Miss Hope All right,
Neb: now turn over chair, and sit
your man up against it. He will rest
all the easier in that position until his
gang arrives"
He thrust his head out of the door,
peering cautiously forth into the night,
and listening. single horse, prob
ably the one Hawley had been riding,
was tied to dwarfed cottonwood near
NE corner of the cabin. Nothing else
living was visible
Il am going to round up our horses,
and learn the condition of Hawley's
outfit" he announced in a low voice.
Il may be gone for fifteen or twenty
minutes, and, meanwhile, Miss Hope,
get ready for long ride Neb, stand
here close beside the door, and If any
one tries to come In brain him with
your gun-stock. I'll rap three times
when | return"
He slipped out into the silent night
and crept cautiously around the end
of the dark cabin. The distinct change
In the girls attitude of friendship to
ward him. her every evident desire
that he should think we'll of her, to
gether with the providential opportu
nifty for escape, had left him full o.
confidence. The gambler had played
blindly into their hands, and Keith
was quick enough to accept the ad
vantage. 1t was a risk to himself, t
be sure, thus turning again to the
northward, yet the clear duty he OWED
the girl left such choice almost i'm
| perative He certainly could not dras
her along with him on his flight int
the wild Comanche country extend
Ing beyond the Canadian She must
at the very least, be first returned tt
the protection of the standardization
along the Arkansas. After that hat
been accomplished, he would conside
bis own safety. He wondered If Hop,
really was her name. and whether i
was the family cognomen, or her givel
name. That she was Christie Maclair
he had no question, yet that artistI
establishment was probably merel
| assumed for the work of the concer
hall, Both he and Hawley coul,
scarcely be mistaken as to her identi
ty in this respect, and, indeed, she ha,
never openly denied the fact. Yet sh
did not at all seem to be that kind
and Keith mentally contrasted he
with numerous others whom he ha
somewhat intimately known along tn
border circuit. 1t was difficult to as
sociate her with that class; she mus
have come originally from some exec
lent family East, and been driven t
the life by necessity; she was more t
be pitied than blamed. Keith held n
puritanical views of life--his own e,
Deriences had been too rough an
democratic for that-yet he chung Il