Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-05-02

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IL : i
They Were Fighting for Life Silently,
Desperately.
low is only stunned; we must tie and
gag him. Is that you, Neb? Where ia
the girl?"
Il am here, Captain Keith" and he
heard the soft rustic of her dress
across the room What is It I may
do?"
"A coil of rope, or some straps, with
piece Of cloth; anything you can
lay hands on"
She was some moments at 1t, con-
fused by the darkness, and Hawley
moved slightly, his labored breathing
growing plainly perceptible. Keith
heard her cropping toward him, and
held out his hands. She started as he
thus unexpectedly touched her, yet
made no effort to break away.
You-you frightened me a little"
| she confessed. This has all happen
ed 30 quickly hardly realize yet Just
what has occurred"
The action has only really begun"
he assured her, still retaining his hold
upon her hand. This was merely q
preliminary skirmish, and you must
prepare to bear your part in what
follows. We have settled Mr.. Hawley
for the present, and now must deal
with his gang"
ooh. what would l have done II you
had not been here?"
Let us not think about that; we
were here, and now have busy night
before us if we get away safely. Give
me the rope first. Good Here, Neb
you must know how to use this-not
too tight, but without leaving any play
to the armss take the knife out Of his
belt. Now for the cloth, Miss
Msa s.a1y ;, :. ,.,.
But you said it didn't make any
difference what called you"
Il though 1t didn't then, but it does
now"
"Oh. see; we are already on new
footing. Yet l must call you some
thing"
She hesitated Just long enough for
him to notice it. Either she had no
substitute ready at hand, or else doubt
ed the advisability of confiding her
real name under present circumstances
! to one no nearly Stranpor
You may call me Hope"
"A name certainly of good omen,"
he returned. From this moment I
shall forget Christie Maclaire, and re-
member only Miss Hope All right,
Neb; now turn over a chair, and sit
your man up against it He will rest
all the easier in that position until his
gang arrives"
He thrust his head out of the door,
peering cautiously forth into the night,
and listening. A single horse, prob
ably the one Hawley had been riding,
was tied to a dwarfed cottonwood near
the corner of the cabin. Nothing else
living was visible.
Il am going to round up our horses,
|
outfit" he announced in low voice.
Il may be gone for fifteen or twenty
minutes, and. meanwhile, Miss Hope,
get ready for long ride. Neb, stand
here close beside the door, and If any
one tries to como in brain him with
your gun-stock. I'll rap three times
when return"
He slipped out into the silent night,
and crept cautiously around the end
OF the dark cabin. The distinct change
In the girls attitude Of friendship to-
ward him, her every evident desire
that he should think we'll of her, to-
gether with the providential opportu.
nifty for escape. had left him full Of
confidence. The gambler had played
bltndly into their hands, and Keith
was quick enough to accept the ad'
vantage. 1t was risk to himself, to
be sure, thus turning again to the
northward, yet the clear duty he owed
the girl left such a choice almost i'm
perative. He certainly could not DRAG
her along with him on his flight into
the wild Comanche country extend
Ing beyond the Canadian. She must
at the very least, be first returned to
the protection Of the standardization
along the Arkansas. After that had
been accomplished. he would consider
his own safety. He wondered if Hope
really was her name, and whether il
was the family cognomen. or her given
name. That she was Christie Maclaire
he had no question, yet that artistic
establishment was probably merely
assumed for the work Of the concert