The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-02-15
CHAPTER XxxII.
FaIrbaln and Christie.

DR.. Fairbain had originally Joined
The searching party, fully Is eager AZ
Keith himself to run down the rene
Eade Hawley, but after an hour Of re-
Sultless effort, his entire thought shift
ID to the woman they had left alone
1t the hotel. He could not, as yet,
fully grasp the situation, but he re-
NAMED loyal to the one overpowering
truth that he loved Christie Maolaire.
Fairbanks nature was rough. orig
lnal, yet loyal to the core. He had
lived all his life long in army camps,
and upon the frontier, and his code
Of honor was extremely simple. 1t
never once occurred to him that Chris
ties profession was not Of the high
est, or that her life and associations
In any way unified her for the future.
To his mind she was the one and only
woman. His last memory of her, as
the little party of men fled out OF
that room, haunted him until he fin
ally dropped out of the search and
arifted back toward the hotel
It was q late hour, yet 1t was hard
~ likely the woman had retired. Her
excitement, her interest in the pursuit,
would surely prevent that; moreover,
he was certain he saw light still
burning In her room, as he looked up
HON the black street below. Never
AAlAas he hesitated. uncertain OF his
reception. Bluff, emphatic, never
afraid to face a man in his life, his
heart now beat fiercely as he endeav-
pred to muster the necessary cour-
Age. Far down the dark street some
Poysterer fired q shot, and sudden fear
lest he might be sought after profess
ptonally sent the doctor hurriedly
within, and up the stairs. He stood,
BUST outside her door, quaking like q
child, the perspiration beading his
forehead, but a light streamed
through the transom, and he could
plainly hear movements within. At
last, In sudden spasm of courage,
he knocked softly. Even in that noisy
spot she heard instantly, opening the
door without hesitation, and standing
fully dressed within. She was no
longer discouraged, sobbing girl,
but an aroused, intent woman, into
whose pathetic, lonely life there had
come a new hope. She appeared
younger, fairer, with the light SHIN
mering in her hair and her eyes smil-
ting welcome.
"Oh, Doctor" and her hands were
thrust out towards him, II am glad
you have come. Somehow, l thought
you would, and / have wanted 80 to
talk to some one-to YOU"
ITO mel Do you really mean that,
Miss Christiei"
Eyes. really mean that, you great
bear Of man." and the girl laughed
lightly, dragging him into the room
and closing the door. why, who else
could expect to come to-nightf You
were the only one really good to me.
You-you acted as II you believed In
me all the time
Il did. Christie; you bet I did"
proke In the delighted doctor. every
nerve tingling. I'D a cleaned out
THAT whole gang II you'd only said
%, but reckon now 1t was better to
tset them tell all they knew. It was
Ike thunder storm clearing the a.
mosphere."
"Oh. It was. indsedi Now I know
Who ] am-who l ami Isn't that sim.
ply glorious! Sit down, Doctor Fair
balm. there In the big chair whore I
'can see Jour face. want to talk. talk,
talk; want to ask questions, q thou.
sand questions; but It wouldn't do any
,good to ask them Of you. would iti
You don't know anything shout my
family, do youf"
mot very much. I am afraid. only
that You have got an almighty pretty
hah-dstsr." admitted the man. en-