Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-05-30

just about what Christie Is. 1t wouldn't
have fit better If we had made 1t on
purpose. If the girl will only play
up to the part we won't need any 9TH
er evidence-her face would be
enough"
Keith could hear the beating Of his
own heart in the silence that follow
ed Here was a new thought, new
understanding, complete new turn
to affairs. Christie Maclaire, then,
was not Willoughby's sister Hope. The
girl he rescued on the desert-the
girl with the pleading brown eyes,
and the soft blur of the South on her
lips-was not the music hall singer.
He could hardly grasp the truth at
first, 1t antagonized so sharply with
all he had previously believed. Yet,
II this were true his own duty became
clearer than ever; aye, and would be
more willingly performed. But what
did Hawley know? Did he already
realize that the girl he had first met
on the stage coach, and later inveigled
into the desert, was Hope, and not the
music hall artist? He, of course, fully
believed her to be Christie Maclaire
at that time, but something might
have occurred since to change that be-
lief. Anyhow, the man was not now
seeking Hope. but the other. Appar-
entity the latter was either already
here In Sheridan or expected soon.
And exactly what was it the gambler
desired this Maolaire woman to dot
This was the important matter, and
for Its solution Keith possessed mere
ly few hints. few vague suggestions
She was expected to represent herself
as Phyllis-Phyllis who? Some Phyl-
lis surely whose physical resemblance
to Hope must be sufficiently marked
to be at once noticeable. Willoughby
had evidently revealed to Hawley
some hidden family secret, having
money involved, no doubt, and In
which the discovery of this mysteri-
GUS Phyllis figured. She might, per
haps, be sister, or half-sister, who
had disappeared, and remained ignor
ant as to any Inheritance. Hopes
picture shown by the boy, and re-
miEding Hawley at once of Christie
Maclaire. had been the basis of the
whole plot Exactly what the details
of that plot might be Keith could not
figure out, but one thing was reason
ably certain-it was proposed to de-
fraud Hope. And who in the very
truth was Hope? 1t suddenly occurred
! to him as remarkably strange fact
that he possessed not the slightest
inkling as to the girls name Her
brother had assumed to be called Will
loughby when he enlisted in the army,
and his companions continued to call
him this. If he could interview the
girl now for only five minutes he
| should be able probably to straighten
, out the whole intricate tangle But
where was she? Would she have re-
manned until this time at Fort Larned
with Kate Murphy?
/. There was a noise Of movement in
the next room. Apparently as Hawley
| arose carelessly from his edge of the
washstand he had dislodged the glass,
which fell shivering on the floor Scott
swore audibly at the loss.
Shut up, Bill" snapped the gam
bier. irritated, you've got the bottle
left. I'm going; there's nothing for
any of us to do now, until after see
Christie. You remain here. Do you
understand ?-remain here. Damn me,
II that drunken fool isn't waking up"
/ Of l, viz
bed, and then the sound of Willough-
by's voice, thick from liquor.
Almighty glad to see you, Bart
am, indeed Want money-Bill an L
both want money-can't drink with
out money-can't eat without money
shay when you goin stake us?'
IN see you again in the morning,
Fred" returned the other briefly. Go
on back to sleep"
will when l git good an ready
go sleep, stay wake. just as l please
don't care damn what yer do-got
new frien' now"
"A new friend? Who?" Hawley
spoke with aroused interest
"Oh he's all right-he's mighty fine
felloW-come in wlSout in--fnvlta-
tion-called her Hope-you fool, Bart
Hawley, think my sister Christie
Christie-damfino the name-my sis
ter, Hope-dont want yer money
my-my new friend, he'll stake me
he knows my sister-Hope.'
The gambler grasped the speaker
shaking him into some slight sem
blance of sobriety.
Now. look here, Willoughby, | want
the truth, and mean to have it," he in
sisted. Has some one been in here
while Scott was gomez"
"Sure-didn't just tell yer?-
friend O. Hopes"
Who was he! Speak up! 1 want
the name"
There was faint gurgling sound
as though the gamblers vice-like I'm