River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-02-01
CHAPTER xxxI.-(continued.)

Il have told you my name-Jack
Keith he replied. quietly. Doctor
Fairbain knows something of me, but
for your further information will add
that when we met before | was Cap
tain Keith, Third Virginia Cavalry.
and bearing dispatches from Long
street to Stonewall Jackson
The gruff old soldier, half-crazed by
the news OF his daughters peril, the
CLEAN of his eyes still revealing I'M
controlled temper. stared at the young
er face fronting him; then slowly he
held out his hand.
'Keith-Keith," he repeated, as
though bringing back the name with
an effort. by God. that's sold JEFF
ferson Keith's boy-killed at An
tietam. And you know Hope?"
Yes, General"
He looked about as though dazed.
and the sheriff broke in not unkindly.
We'll, Waite, If we are going to
search for your daughter we better
be at it. Come on. all of you; Miss
Maclaire will be safe enough here
alone"
He took hold of Keiths arm, ques-
tioning him briefly as they passed
down the hall. On the stairs the lat
ter took his turn, still confused by
what he had just heard
who is Miss Maclaire?" he asked.
Phyllis Gale"
"Of course. but who is Phyllis Gale?
What has she to do with General
Waite? His daughter has told me she
never heard of any one by that name"
We'll, Keith. che old man has never
told me very much; he's pretty close
mouthed. except for swearing, but I've
read his papers, and picked up point
or two. reckon the daughter. Miss
Hope, maybe never heard a word
about it. but the boy-the one that
was shot-must have stumbled onto
the story and repeated it to Hawley
That's what set that fellow going. 1t
seems Mrs Waite's maiden name was
Pierpont, and when she was seven
teen years old she was married to the
son of rich North Carolina planter.
The fellow was a drunken, dissclute,
good-for-nothing. They had a daugL-
ter born--this Phyllis-and when the
child was three years old her father.
i'll fit of drunken rage, ran away, and
TO spite his wife took the little girl
with him. All efforts to trace them
failed, and the mother finally secured
q divorce and, two years later. mar
ried Willis Waite. Waite, of course,
knew these facts, but probably they
he
the father OF Mrs. Waite's first hus-
band lied, he left all his large proper
ty to his grandchild. providing she
could be found and identified within a
certain time, failing which the proper
ty was to be distributed among GER
tain designated charities. Waite was
named sole administrator Well, the
old man took as much interest In 1t as
though it was his own girl. but made
mighty little progress. He did dis
cover that the father had taken the
child to ST. Louis and left here there
with a woman named Raymond. but
after the woman died the girl COM
pletely disappeared.
Then Miss Maclaire is Hope
Waite's half-sister?"
That's the way it looks now"
And Hawley merely happened to
stumble on to the right party?"
Sure; it's clear enough how that
came about. The boy told him about
the lost heiress his father was search
ing after, and showed him his sisters
picture. Black Bart instantly recog-
nized her resemblance to Christie
Maclaire. and thought he saw good
chance for some easy money. He
needed the papers. however, to ascer-
tain exactly the terms of the will.
and what would be necessary for the
Identification. He never intended TO
go into court, but hoped to either get
Waite out Of the way. or else convince
him that Christie was the girl, relying
on her gratitude for his profits. When
Waite played into his hands by COM