The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-05-03
CHAPTER lX.-(contlnucd.)

Il have been a perfect brute" he &C
knowledge frankly, with no thought
Except for myself. Hunger was my
master. and | ask your forgiveness.
Miss Maclaire."
Her eyes smiled.
Il ann no very glad 90 have any enc
here-any one--in whom | feel ven
D little contdenco-that nothing else
greatly matters. Can you both eat.
md listen p
Keith nodded. his eyes full OF inter
sst. searching Der face.
whoever / may be, Mr.. Keith, and
seally that seems only of small I'm
pCrtance. I came to Fort Larned seek
ing some trace of my only brother,
whom we last heard from there, where
De had fallen into evil companionsbip.
On the stage trip I was fortunate
!Inough to form an acquaintance with
. man who told me he knew where |
sould meet Fred, but that the boy was
hiding because Of some trouble he
had lately gotten into. and that |
mould have to proceed very carefully
PC as not to lead the officers to dis
pover his whereabouts. This gentle
man was engaged In some business at
earson City. but ne employed a man
% bring me TO this place, and prom
bed to get Fred. and meet me here the
following day. There must have been
some failure in the plans. for l have
been here entirely alone now for three
lays. 1t has been very lonesome. and
land I've been a little frightened.
Perhaps | ought not to have come. and
ain not certain what kind of a place
ahis Is. I was 70 afraid when you
came, but l am not afraid now"
You have no reed TO be-" he said
soberly. impressed by the innocent
eador Of the girl. and feeling thank
kui that he was present to aid her. Il
could not wrong a Of the South"
MY father always told me / could
trust q Southern gentleman under any
circumstances. Mr.. Hawley was from
ny W State, and knew many Of Il
pld friends. That was why l felt such
unusual confidence In him, although
- ~ but a travelling acquaintance"
"Mr. Hawieyr'
"The gentleman whom / met on the
stage."
"Oh, yes; you Said he was In bust
eess In Carson CITY. but I don't seem
remember any one OF that name"
He was not there permanently;
enly to complete some business deal"
"And your brother? may possibly
have known him.
She hesitated an instant her eyes
~rorping. until completely shaded by
NE long lashes.
"He-he was rather q Wild boy. and
Pan away from home 70 enlist in the
hrmy. But he got into q bad SET, and
land deserted. That was part Of the
krouble which caused him 70 hide. He
enlisted under the name OF Fred Will
oOughby. Mr.. Hawley told me this
mach. but I am afraid he aid mo- tell
ne all"
And he said you would meet him
Aerer"
Keith gazed about the bare sur.
eCundings wonderingly. What was
khts plC .. hidden away In the midst
~ the desert. isolated In a spot where
not even Indians roamed. Could Il be
secret rendezvous of crime, the
Headquarters OF d~esperadoes. of cat.
Ne rustlers. Of the highwaymen of the
Bante Fe Trail-a point to which they
Dould ride when hard pressed. Ger
Dnfn Of hiding here La safety? He b.
gan 10 suspect this. but. II 90, who
hen was this Hawley. and with what
pA3ect had he sent this girl hersr
Every way he turned was to confront
mystery. 70 face q new puzzle. What
ever she might be-even the music
hall singer he be,ieved-she had been
lnvedgied here innocently enough.
"Yes." she replied. he said that this
WAS one Of the stations Of Q biz ranch
ba which Fred war employed. and that
~ would certainly b here within Z
1ay or two"
"You met Hawiey On the stars
eoachf How did you become acquail4,
ca"
I'VE were alone TOR nearly nfty
miles," her voice tailoring siighNy.
Yand--and no called me- what you did.-
~ChSlstto Naclairer'
~Ies; he-hs seemed to thi0k h
new me. and ! aesdsd hslp . uncA
gat lot him bs1lovs "a. CAaueAl
eoul1 - - hoDm. ~ III. 49,
tANnA - ssonAn1 Aou Ds~At~
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