The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-04-26


 was barely a chance that this could be true, and yet Keith grasped at 1t desperately, cursing himself for hay ing wasted time. Five minutes later, breathless, almost speeches. with anxiety, he startled the clerk.
 Has Miss Waite come in? Miss { Hope Waiter"
 Blamed if I know" retorted the other, indifferently. Cant for the life of me tell those two females apart. One of them passed through bout ten minutes ago; Doc Fairbain was with her. Another party just went up- stairs hunting Miss Maclaire, and as they haven't come down, I reckon it must have been her-anything wrong?"
 I'm not sure yet" shortly. Who was this other person?"
 "Old fellow with white hair and whiskers- like a pirate-had the sheriff along with him. ! It came to Keith in a fiash-it was Waite. Perhaps Christie knew. Per haps the General knew. Certainly something of importance was crystal lizing in the actress room which might help to explain all else. He rushed up the stairs, barely waiting to rap once at the closed door before he pressed 1t open. The sight within held him silent, waiting opportunity to blurt out his news. Here, also, was tragedy, intense, compelling, which for the instant seemed to even overshadow the fate of the girl he loved. There were three men pres ent, and the woman. She stood clutch ing the back of a chair, whitehead and open-eyed, with Fairbain slightly behind her, one hand grasping her arm, the other clinched, his jaw set pugnaciously. Facing these two was Waite, and heavily built man wear ing brown beard. closely trimmed.
 You'd better acknowledge it, Waite snapped out, with quick glance at the newcomer. "It will make it all the easier for you. I tell you this is the sheriff, and we've got you both dead to rights"
 But" she urged, why should I be arrested? I have done nothing"
 You're an adventuress-a damn dventuress-Hawleys mistress, prob ably-a-"
 Now, see here, Waite" and Fair bain swung himself forward, you drop that. Miss Maclaire is my friend, and if you say another word I'll smash you, sheriff or no sheriff"
 Waite glared at him.
 You old fool" he snorted, what have you got to do with this?"
 I've got this to do with, you'll find the woman is to be treated with re- spect or I'll blow your damned ob- stinate head off,"
 The sheriff laid his hand on Waite's shoulder.
 Come" he said, firmly, this is no way to get at 1t. We want to know certain facts, and then we can pro ceed lawfully. Let me question the woman"
 The two older men still faced one another belligerently, but Keith saw Christie draw the doctor back from between her and the sheriff.
 You may ask me anything you please" she announced, quietly. ''l am sure these gentlemen will not fight in my room"
 Very well, Miss Maclaire. It will require only a moment How long have you known this man Hawley?"
 Merely few days-since I arrived in Sheridan"
 But you were in communication with him before that?"
 TheN pleasant voice and quiet de- meanor of the sheriff seemed to yield the girl confidence and courage.
 Yes, he had written me two or three letters"
 You met him here then by appoint ment?"
 &- explain to me more fully what his let ters had only hinted at."
 You possessed no previous knowL edge of his parpose?"
 Only the barest outline were given me later"
 Will you tell us briefly exactly what Hawley told your The girls bewifdsred eyes wandered from face to face, thea returned to the waiting sheriff.
 "May-may I sit down?" she asked.
 Most certainly; and don't he afraid, for really we wish to be your friends. D
 She sank down into the chair, and even Keith could see how her slender form trembled. There was a me naents silence.
 Believe me- gentlemen" she began, falteringly, If there Is any fraud, any conspiracy, I have borne no conscious part in it. MT. Hawley came to me saying a dying man had left with him certain papers, naming one, Phyllis Gale, as heiress to 8 very large estate in North Carolina, left by her grand father in trust. He said the girl had been taken West, when scarcely two years old, by her father in a fit of drunken rage. and then deserted by him in St. Louis"
 ''You-you saw the papers?" Waite broke in.
 ssYes those that Hawley had. he