Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-06-20
Copyright. A.
CHAPTER XXI.
An Interrupted Interview.


Miss Christie Maclaire. attired in a
soft lounging robe, her luxuriant hair
wound simply about her head, forming
a decidedly attractive picture, gazed
with manifest dissatisfaction on the
bare walls of her room, and then out
through the open window into the
comparative quiet street below. The
bartender at the Palace" directly
opposite, business being slack, was
leaning negligently in the doorway.
His rowing eyes caught the fair face
framed in the window, and he waved
his hand encouragingly. Miss. Chris
ties brown eyes stared across at him
In silent disgust, and then wandered
again about the room, her foot tapping
nervously on the rag carpet.
Its my very last trip to this town."
she said decisively, her red lips
pressed tightly together.
Miss Maclaire had indeed ample
reason to feel aggrieved over her re-
ception. She had written to have the
best apartment in the house reserved
for her. and then. merely because she
Hays. and was consequently day be-
hind in arrival, had discovered that
another woman--a base imposter, act
ually masqueradinf under her name
had been duly installed In the coveted
apartment. Driving in from the fort
that morning. accompanied by two Of
the more susceptible junior officers,
conscious that she had performed
most artistic work the evening before
In the spacious mess-hall, and feeling
confident Of comfortable quarters
awaiting her, 1t had been something Of
= shock to be informed by the per-
turbed clerk that "15" was already
occupied by another. "a lady what
come In last night, and I naturally
supposed it was you"
In vain Miss Maclaire protested,
ably backed by the worshipful officers
who still gallantly attended her; the
management was obdurate. Then she
would go up herself, and throw the
hussy out. Indeed, too angry for
bantering further words, Christie had
actually started for the stairs, intend
ing to execute her threat, when the
perspiring Tommy succeeded in stop
ping her. by plainly hurting out the
exact truth.
Don't you ever do it" he insisted.
The marshal brought her in here,
and fired fellow out o. the room so
as to give it to her. He'd clean out
this house If we ran in a cold deck on
a friend o. his
What do care for what your
marshal does?"
But he's Bill Hickock, Miss, Wild
Bill"
Miss Maclaire leaned back against
the stair-rail, her eyes turning from
Tommy to her speeches. supporters.
Slowly the truth seemed to penetrate
her brain.
"Oh," she gasped at last Then
then what else can you give me?"
The officers had long since depart.
ed, promising, however. to remain
over in town and hear her again that
night at the Trocadero, with hints as
to late supper; she had received a
call from the manager of that most
popular resort, and had rendered his
life miserable by numerous demands;
had passed half an hour practicing
with the leader of the orchestra; but
now was at last alone, tired, decided
ly irritable. and still tempted to in
wade 49," and give that other woman
q piece of her mind Then some one
raped on the door. There was de
cided accent of vexation in the voice
which babe the one outside enter, but
the lady's mood changed swiftly as
her brown eyes perceived standing In
the doorway the erect form of Keith
the light from the window revealing
clearly his strong face. The mar
stood hat in hand, bowling slightly, un
able to comprehend why he should
have been sent for, yet marvellini
again at the remarkable resemblance
between this woman and that othel
whom he had left at Fort Larned. Az
Err Cnr2ine "