Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-04-25
Copyright. A. c. Mcclurg & Co.. 1907


hiding because of some trouble he
had lately gotten into, and that I
should have to proceed very carefully
so as not to lead the officers to dis
cover his whereabouts. This gentle
man was engaged in some business at
Carson City, but he employed a man
to bring me to this place, and prom
ised to get Fred, and meet me here the
following day. There must have been
some failure in the plans, for have
been here entirely alone now for three
days. 1t has been very lonesome, and
and I've been little frightened.
Perhaps ought not to have come, and
am not certain what kind of place
this Is. l was so afraid when you
came, but am not afraid now"
You have no need to be-" he said
soberly, impressed by the innocent
candor of the girl, and feeling thank
full that he was present to aid her. Il
could not wrong one of the South"
my father always told me could
trust Southern gentleman under any
circumstances. Mr. Hawley was from
my own State, and knew many Of our
old friends. That was why felt such
unusual confidence in him, although
he was but travelling acquaintance"
"Mr. Hawley?"
'The gentleman whom met on the
stage"
ooh, yes; you said he was in bust
ness in Carson City. but don't seem
to remember any one of that name"
He was not there permanently;
only to complete some business deal"
and your brother? I may possibly
have known him."
She hesitated an instant, her eyes
dropping, until completely shaded by
the long lashes.
"He-he was rather wild boy, and
ran away from home to enlist in the
army. But he got into bad set, and
and deserted. That was part of the
trouble which caused him to hide. He
enlisted under the name Of Fred Will
loughby. Mr.. Hawley told me this
much, but am afraid he did not tell
me ALL"
And he said you would meet him
here?"
Keith gazed about the bare sur
roundings wonderingly. What was
this place, hidden away in the midst
of the desert, isolated in spot where
not even Indians roamed. Could it be
q secret rendezvous of crime, the
headquarters of desperadoes, of cat
tie rustlers, of the highwaymen Of the
Sante Fe Trail-a point to which they
could ride when hard pressed, GER
tain Of hiding here in safety? He be-
gan to suspect this, but. If So who
then was this Hawley. and with what
Every way he turned was to confront
mystery, to face new puzzle What
ever she might be-even the music
hall singer he believed-she had been
inveigled here innocently enough.
Even now she possessed only the most
vague suspicion that she had been de-
ceived. The center of the whole plot,
If there was plot, must be Hawley.
YES" she replied, "he said that this
was one of the stations of big ranch
on which Fred was employed, and that
he would certainly be here within a
day or two"
You met Hawley on the stage
coach? How did you become acquaint-
ed?"
I'VE were alone for nearly fifty
miles," her voice faltering slightly,
"and-and he called me what you did"
Christie Macaire?"
Eyes; he-he seemed to think he
knew me, and l needed help so much
that l let him believe so. l thought
1t could do no harm, and then, when
found he actually knew Fred, didn't
think of anything else, only how for
| tunate l was to thus meet him Surely
something serious must have happen
| ed or he would have been here before
this. Do you-do you suppose there
is anything wrong?"
Keith did not smile nor change
posture. The more he delved into the
matter, the more serious he felt the
situation to be. He knew all those
ranches lying south on the Canadian,
and was aware that this was no out
station. No cattle ever came across
that sandy desert unless driven by
rustlers, and no honest purpose could
account for this isolated hut. There
had been frequent robberies along the
trail, and he had overheard tales OF
mysterious disappearances in both
Larned and Carson City. Could 1t be
that he had now, accidentally, STUN
bled upon the rendezvous of the gang!
He was not man easily startled, but
this thought sent his heart beating.
He knew enough to realize what such
gang would naturally consist Of
| deserters, outlaws, rustlers; both In
dams md whites. no doubt, combined
under some desperate leadership Gas
Ing into the girls questioning eyes he
could scarcely refrain from hurting
out all he suspected. Yet why should
he? What good could 1t do? He
could not hope to bear her south to
the Bar X'' Ranch, for the ponies