Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-05-30

one thing was clearly eVldent-tne
boys faith in his sister. II he was
to be rightly Influenced, and led back
to her, he must have no suspicion
aroused that her life was any differ
ent from what 1t had been before he
left home. Besides If Keith hoped to
gain any inkling of what Hawley's
purpose could be, he must win the
confidence of Willoughby. This could
not be done by telling him of Hopes
present life. These considerations
flashed through his mind, and as swift
ly determined his answer.
ooh, I've known her some time Not
long ago did her service for which
she is grateful. Did you know she
was out in this country searching for
your"
"Out here? In Kansas?"
Sure; that isn't much of a trip
Tor spirited girl. She got 1t in her
head from your letters that you were
In trouble, and set out to find you
and bring you home. She didn't tell
me this, but that is the way heard 1t.
1t was for her sake came in here.
Why not go to her, Willoughby, and
then both of you return to Missouri"
The sullenness had gone out of the
boys face; he looked tired, discour-
aged.
Where is Hope?" he asked
Fort Larned. l suppose. She went
to Carson City first"
We'll. that settles It," shaking his
T
browsin' round Larned, and not get
snapped up, do you? They don't chase
| deserters very far out here, but that's
the post l skipped from, and they'd
| jug me all right. Besides, I'm damned
| If III go back until get stake. l
want to see fellow first"
What fellow"
We'll, it's Hawley, If you want to
| know so bad. He said If would come
here and wait for him he'd put me on
to a good thing"
! The boy fidgeted along the edge of
the bed, evidently half ashamed OF
himself, yet obstinate and unyielding.
Keith sat watching his face, unable to
evolve any means of changing his de-
cision. Hawleys influence just at
present was greater than Hopes, be-
cause the lad naturally felt ashamed
to go sinking home penniless and de-
feated. His pride held him to Hawley,
and his faith that the man would re-
deem his promise. Keith understood
all this readily enough, and compre-
hended also that if BLACK Bart" had
any use for the boy it would be for
some criminal purpose. What was it,?
Was there a deeply laid plot back OF
all these preparations involving both
Willoughby and his sister? What
was it Hawley was scheming about so
carefully, holding this boy deserter
in one hand, while he reached out the
other after Christie Maclaire? Surely,
the man was not working blindly; he
must have a purpose in view. Will
loughby had acknowledged he had told
the fellow something once when he
was drunk-about his family history,
no doubt for he had shown him
Hopes picture. What that family
secret was Keith had no means of
guessing. but Hawley, the moment he
saw the face on the cardboard, had
evidently recognized Christie Maclaire
had thought of some way in which
what he now knew could be turned
to advantage. The few scattered facts
which Keith had collected all seemed
to point to such a conclusion-Hawley
had sent the boy to Sheridan, where
he would be out of sight, with orders
to wait for him there, and the prom
ise OF a stake" to keep him quiet
Then he had gone to independence
and Topeka seeking after Christie
Maclaire. Evidently he meant to keep
the two apart until he had gained
from each whatever it was he
sought. But what could that be?
What family secret could Willoughby
have blurted out in his cups, which
had so stimulated the gamblers wits
Two things combined to cause
Keith to determine he would uncover
this rascalty-his desire to repay
Hawley, and his interest in the Cir
rescued on the Salt Fork. This gossa
Il mer web of intrigue into which he had
stumbled unwittingly was nothing te
him personally; had it not involved
both Hawley and Miss Hope, he would
have left 1t unsolved without another
thought. But under the circumstances
1t became his own battle There was
a crime here-hidden as yet, ano
probably not consummated-invo
wrong, perhaps disgrace, to the young
girl. He had rescued her once from
out the clutches of this man, and he
had no intention of DESERVING her now
Whatever her life might be, she was
certainly an innocent victim in thi.
case, deserving his protection. Thu
memory came to him of her face up
turned toward him in that little room
of the Occidental, her eyes tear
dimmed, her lips asking him to com.
back to her again. He could not be
lieve her bad woman, and his lip!
compressed. his eyes darkened, will
fixed determination. He would di,
into this until he uncovered the truth