Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-02-06
CHAPTER XXX.
In Christie's Room.

Keith swept his glance up and 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 a man and woman walking
together He stopped. bewildered,
staring blindly about, failing utterly 10
comprehend this mysterious vanishing
What could it mean? What had hap
pened? How could they have disap-
peared so completely during that sin
gle moment he had waited to speak to
Fairbain? The mans heart beat like
a trip-hammer with apprehension,
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 HawIey
would not dare resort to force in the
open street. The very thought seemed
preposterous, and yet, with no other
suppost.ion possible, he entered these
one after the other in has:y search.
questioning the inmates sharply, only
to find himself totally baf1ed-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.
er 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 hay-
ing wasted time. Five minutes later.
breathless. almost speeches. with
anxiety. he startled the clerk.
Has Miss Waite come In? Miss
Hope Waite?"
Blamed If ! know" retorted the
other, indifferently. Can't for the
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 I'D.
stairs hunting Miss Maclaire. and as
they haven't come down, | reckon IT
must have been her-anything
wrong?"
I'm not sure yet" shortly. who
was this other person."
"Old fellow with white hair and
whiskers-swore like a 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 IL 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
loved. There were three men pres
ent. and the woman. She stood clutch.
ing the back of a chair. white-faced
and open-eyed, with Fairhain slightly
behind her. one hand gresping her
arm. the other clinched. his jaw set
pugnaciously. Facing these two was
Waite. and a heavily built rnau wear
ing a brown beard. closely trimmed,
You'd better acknowledge 1t,
Waite snapped out, with Quick
glance at the newcomer. 1t viii make
il all the easier for you. tel you
this is the sheriff. and we've got you
both dead 20 rights.
But" she urged. why should | be
arrestedg l have done nothing.
You're an adyenturess-a damn
adventuress-Haw mistress, prob
ably"
Nov. see here, Waite, and Fair
balm swung himself forward you
drop that Miss Maclaire is my friend,