The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-04

sometime. There would be no difh-
Guilty about that, but otherwise she
should retain no influence over him.
She belonged rather to Hawley's class
than his.
1t was a lonely, tiresome ride, dur
ing which Neb made various efforts
to talk, but finding his white COM
panion communicative, at last re-
lapsed into rather sullen silence. The
horses plodded on steadily, and when
daylight finally dawned, the two men
found themselves in depression lead
ing down to the Smoky River. Here
they came to a water hole, where they
could safely hide themselves and their
stock. With both Indians and white
men to be guarded against, they took
all the necessary precautions, picket
ing the horses closely under the rock
shadows, and not venturing upon
building any fire. Neb threw himself
on the turf and was instantly asleep,
but Keith climbed the steep side Of
the gully, and made searching survey
of the horizon. The wide arc to the
south, east and west revealed nothing
to his searching eyes, except the dull
brown of the slightly rolling plains,
with no life apparent save some dis
tant grazing antelope, but to the north
faint glimmer of water between the
hills. Satisfied they were unobserved,
he slid back again into the depression
AS he turned to lie down he took hold
of the saddle belonging to Hawley's
horse In the unbuckled holster his
white paper. He drew it FORTH and
gazed at it unthinkingly. 1t was an
envelope, robbed Of it's contents, eN-
IDENTIFY not sent through the mails. as
it had not been stamped, but across
its face was plainly written, Miss
Christie Maclaire" He stared at it,
his lips firm set, his gray eyes dark
ening. If he possessed any doubts
before as to her identity, they were
all thoroughly dissipated now.
AS he lay there, with head pillowed
fatigue yet totally unable to sleep,
staring open-eyed into the blue of the
sky. the girl they had left behind
awoke from uneasy slumber, aroused
by the entrance of Mrs Murphy. For
an instant she failed to comprehend
her position, but the strong brogue
Of the energetic jandlady broke in
sharply:
"A bit av a cup av coffee fer ye,
honey" she explained. crossing to the
bed. "Shure an there's nuthin' loike
it when We first wake up. Howly
Mither, but it's toird 'nough We do be
lookin' yet"
81 haven't slept very WELL" the fri
confessed, bringing her hand oae frs1
beneath the coverlet, the locket( still
tightly clasped in her finger. See, I
found this on the floor last night lafter
you had gone down stairs"
eye did" setting the coffee ot
convenient chair, and reaching out Tor
the trinket. Let's have look at it
once. Angels av Hiven, if it isn't the
same the OF Gineral was shown me
in the parly."
The other sat up suddenly, her
white shoulders and rounded throat
cleaning.
THE old General, you said? What
General? When was he here?"
"Shure now, be aisy, honey, an Ofll
tell We all there is to it. It's not his
name Oh know; maybe OF niver heard
called him; all right. He was here
maybe three days outfttin'-a noice
spoken Oh gintlemin, wild gray beard,
an onc't he showed me the locket-
be the powers, II it do be his, there's
an openin' to it, an picter inside"
The girl touched the spring, reveal
ing the face within, but her eyes were
blinded with tears. The landlady look
ed at her in alarm.
What is it. honey? What is it?
Did you know him?"
The slender form swayed forward,
shaken with sobs.
He was my father, and-and this is
my mothers picture which he always
carried
Then what is your name?"
Hope Waite"
Kate Murphy looked at the face halt
hidden in the bed-clothes. That was
not the name which Keith had given
her, but she had lived on the border
too long to be inguisitive. The other
lifted her head, flinging back her
loosened hair with one hand.
''Mr. Keith dropped it." she exclaim-
ed. Where do you suppose he got it? ?"
Then she gave quick, startled cry,
her eyes opening wide in horror ''The
Cimmaron Crossing, the murder at the
Cimmaron Crossing! He-he told me
about that; but he never showed me
this-this. Do you-do you think"
Her voice failed, but Kate Murphy
gathered her into her arms.
Cry here, honey" she said, as If to
child. "Shure an Dim tellin' We it
niver was Jack Keith what did it
murther amt his stoyle."
cAApTER WI