Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-07-18
CHAPTER lx.-(contlnued.)

81 have been a perfect brute" he &C
knowledge frankly. with no thought
except for myself. Hunger vas my
master. and | ask your forgiveness.
Miss Maclaire."
Her eyes smiled.
Il am so very glad to have any n
here-any one-in whom | feel even
a little conidence-that nothing else
greatly matters. Can you both eat.
and LISTEN"
Keith nodded. his eyes full OF inter
est, searching her face.
Whoever | may be, Mr.. Keith. and
really that seems only OF small i'm
%portance. | came to Fort Larned seek
ing some trace OF my only brother.
whom we last heard from there, where
he had fallen into evil companionship.
On the stage trip | was fortunate
enough TO form an acquaintance with
a man who old me he knew where |
could meet Fred. but that the boy was
hiding because OF some trouble he
had lately gotten into. and that !
should have TO proceed very carefully
so as not TO lead the officers TO dis
cover his whereabouts. This gentle
man was engaged In some business at
Carson City. but he employed a man
TO bring me to this place. and prom
ised TO get Fred. and meet me here the
following day. There must have been
some failure In the plans. for | have
been here entirely alone To- for three
days. II has been very lonesome. and
and I've been a little frightened.
Perhaps | ought not 10 have come. and
! am not certain what kind OF a place
this is. | was so afraid when you
came. but | am not afraid now"
You have no need TO be-" he said
soberly. impressed by the innocent
candor OF the girl. and feeling thank.
full that he was present to aid her. Il
could not wrong one OF the South"
My father alw avs told me | could
trust a Southern gentleman under any
circumstances. Mr.. Hawley was from
my own State. and knew many OF our
did friends. That was why | felt such
unusual confidence in him. although
he was but a travelling acquaintance"
MFR. Hawley?"
The gentleman whom | met on the
stage"
"Oh. yes: you said he was In bust
ness I'm Carson City. but I don't seem
to remember any one OF that name"
He was not there permanently:
only to complete some business deal"
And your %brother?' | may possibly
have known him"
She hesitated an instant. her eyes
dropping. until completely shaded by
the long lashes.
"He-he was rather a Wild boy. and
ran away from home TO enlist in the
army. But he got into a bad set. and
and deserted. That was part of the
trouble which caused him TO hide. He
enlisted under the name OF Fred VII
loughby. MIR. Hawley told me this
much. but | am afraid he did not tel
me all"
T And he said you would meet hin
here?"
Keith gazed about the bare sur
7 roundings wonderingly. What wa.
this place. hidden away In the mids
OF the desert. isolated In a spot where
not even Indians roamed. Could II b.
a secret rendezvous OF crime. tn,
1 Headquarters OF desperadoes. OF cat
tie rustlers. OF the ~highwaymen OF tn,
Sante Fe Trail-a point to which the,
could ride when hard pressed. Ger
tain Of hiding here in safety? He be
gan to suspect this. but. II 80. witt
=. then was this Hawley. and with wha
object had HI sent this girl here
Every way he turned was to confron
mystery. TO face a new puzzle. What
ever she might be-even the musi
hall singer he believed-she had bee
lnveigled here innocently enough
Yes" she replied. "he said that thi
was one OF the stations OF a big ranc!
On which Fred was employed, and tina
!, he would certainly be here within
, lay or two"
You met Hawley on the stag
= coach? How did you become acquain'
: sd?"
c I'VE were alone for nearly mn,
miles, her voice faltering slightly
-and-and he called me what you did.
Christie Maclaire?"
. yes he-he seemed to think b
knew me. and ! needed help so niue
, that | LET him believe so. though
= n could do no harm. and then. whe
e I found he actually knew Fred. ! didn