The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-02-08
oh, thank God" she sobbed. thank
God! know who am! know who
I ann"
CHAPTER XXI.
The Search for the Missing.

The note of unrestrained joy of re-
lief in the woman's voice rang through
the room, shilling all else, and caus-
Ing those who heard to forget for an
instant the sterner purpose of their
gathering. Fairbain bent over her,
like fat guardian angel, patting her
shoulder, her eyes so blurred with
tears as to be practically sightless, yet
still turned questioningly upon Waite.
The sheriff was first to recover
speech, and sense of duty.
Then this lets Miss Maclaire out
OF the conspiracy charge" he said,
| gravely, but 1t doesn't make 1t any
brighter for Hawley SO far as l can
see-there's a robbery charge against
him If nothing else. Any one here
know where the fellow is?"
| For q moment no one answered, a.
though Keith took step forward, re-
minded instantly Of Hopes predica-
ment. Before he could speak, however,
Christie looked up, with swift gesture
pushing back her loosened hair.
HE was to have met me at the
theater tonight" she said, her voice
trembling, but was not there when
l came out; he-he said he had in
portant news for me-"
no message?"
Doctor Fairbain was waiting for
me instead. He said that Mr. Hawley
was called suddenly out of town.
! The eyes of the sheriff turned to
Fairbain, whose face grew redder
than usual, as he shifted his gaze
toward Keith.
THAT was a lie," he confessed.
lamely. II was told to say that"
Just a moment, Sheriff. and Keith
stood before them, his voice clear and
convincing. MY name Is Keith, and
l have unavoidably been mixed up in
this affair from the beginning Just
now l can relieve the doctor of his
embarrassment. Miss Hope Waite
and 1 have been associated together
in an effort to solve this mystery. This
evening. taking advantage Of the re-
markable resemblance existing be-
tween herself and Miss Maclaire, Miss
Hope decided upon a mask"
What's that" Waite broke in ex-
citedly, rs Hope here?"
Eyes, has been Tor a week; we've
had all the police force IF Sheridan
hunting YOU
The Old man stared at the speaker,
open-mouthed, and muttered some
thing about Fort Hays, but Keith, pay
ing little attention to him, hurried on
with his story
las say, she decided upon imper-
sonating Christie here, hoping in this
plans. We had discovered that the
two were to meet after the evening
| performance at the stage door of the
Trocadero. l escorted Hope there,
dressed as near like Miss Maclaire as
possible, and left her inside the vesti-
bule waiting for Black Bart to ap-
pear. At the head of the alley I ran
into Fairbain, told him something Of
the circumstances, and persuaded him
to escort Miss Christie back to the
hotel. He was not very hard to per-
suade. Well, Hawley came, and Hope
met him; they went out of the alley
way together arm in arm, talking
/ pleasantly, and turned this way to-
ward the hotel. The doctor and
both saw and heard them. / was de-
! layed not to exceed two minutes,
speaking final word to Fairbain, and
when l reached the street they had
disappeared. l have hunted them
everywhere without finding trace-I
have even been through the resorts.
She has not returned to the hotel, and
burst in upon you here hoping that
Miss Maclaire might have some infor-
nation"
She shook her head, and Waite,
glazing impotently at the two of them,
swore sharply.
Good God, man! my girl! Hope,
alone with that damn villain. Come
on, Sheriff; we've got to find her.
Wait, thought" and he strobe almost
menacingly across the room. First,
want to know who the devil you
are?
Keith Strengthened up, looking d.
rectly into the fierce questioning eyes.
I have told you my name-Jack
Keith" he replied, quietly. Doctor
Fairbain knows something of me, but
for your further information l will add
that when we met before l was Cap
tain Keith, Third Virginia Cavalry,
and bearing dispatches from Long
street to Stonewall Jackson"
The gruff old soldier, half-crazed by
the news of his daughters peril, the
CLEAN of his eyes still revealing un-
controlled temper, stared at the young
er face fronting him; then slowly he
held out his hand.
"Keith-Keith,' he repeated, as
though bringing back the name with
an effort. by God, that's sold JEFF
ferson Keith's boy-killed at An
tietam. And you know Hopper
Yes, General"
He looked about as though dazed,
and the sheriff broke in not unkindly.
"Well, Waite, If we are going to
search for your daughter We better
be at it. Come on, all Of you; Miss
Maclaire will be safe enough here
alone"
/ He took hold Of Keith's arm, ques-
/