The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-02-29

before Hawley's probable appearance.
! for he would leave the theater at tho
conclusion Of Miss Maclaire's act, re-
strained all demonstration. This was
moment for action, not for words Of
love; no delay should hazard the sue
cess OF their undertaking. He heard
the slight creak of the door as the
girl slipped within the concealment
Of the vestibule, and then he glided
away through the darkness with the
stcalthy silence of an Indian. There
was no one in the alley-way, which
was narrow and easily explored, but
the glow from the front windows
plainly revealed the shadow of a man
near the entrance, and Keith slipped
up toward him, hugging the side of
the building for concealment, prepared
to resort to harsh measures. AS he
reached out, gripping the astonished
loiterer by the collar, they stared at
one another in surprise, and the grip
ping hand as instantly released it's
hold.
/ You, Fairbain! What the devil does
this mean? What are you spying on
us for?"
Clearly taken aback, yet not greatly
disturbed, his eyes showing pugnaci-
Gus and his jaw set, the Doctor rubbed
his throat where Keith's knuckles had
left red welt.
damn you, I think I'm the one to
ask for an explanation" he growled.
~She said she was not going with you.
and now you are around here together
at this hour. 1 had a right to know
whether 1 was being played with like
that"
But, man, that was not Miss Mac
laire was with; it was Hope Waite.
Come back here under the tent flap
while l explain"
Fearful of the coming of Hawley
he fairly dragged the portly figure OF
the bewildered Doctor with him,
striving, by quickly spoken words, to
make him comprehend the situation.
Knowing previously something of the
issues involved, it was not diff cult to
make Fairbain grasp the meaning of
this present movement, yet his SYM
pathies were at once enlisted upon the
side of Miss Christie. He'd be damned
If he would have any part in such a
scheme-if she had a right to the
money he'd help her get tit was
cowardly trick, and he'd fight if nee
essary, to keep her from becoming q
victim. His voice rose, his arms
brandishing violently, his sentences
swapping like rifle shots. Keith an
gered, and fearful of a discovery
which would leave Hope exposed, real
lied the futility of discussion and
turned to physical force Grasping the
gesticulating man with both hands, he
flung him backward and dragged him
into the empty tent, kneeling on him
as he throttled him to the earth.
"Now, Doctor, you listen to me-" he
said sternly I'm through arguing. l
hate to treat you like this, for you are
my friend, but I'll not stand for inter
ference here. Do you get that, you
old fool? Lie still until get through!
respect your feelings toward Miss
Maclaire. She is good girl, and I
hope to heaven you get her If you
want her. But you never will If you
permit this affair to 60 on. Yes, I
! know what am talking about. In all
that Hope and do we are serving you
and Christie only fight Is with
Black Bart Hawley. Stop being a
bullet-headed old fool, Fairbain, and
understand this thing. Lie still, tell
you, and hear me out! Hawley is a
liar, thief, and swindler. There
is swindle in this thing somewhere,
and he hopes to pull out big sum Of
money from it. He is merely using
Christie to pull his own chestnuts out
of the fire. She is innocent; we real
lie that, but this fellow is going to
ruin the girl unless we succeed in ex-
posing him. He's not only involving
her in his criminal conspiracy, but
he's making love to her; he's teaching
her to love him. That's part of his
scheme, no doubt, for then she will be
| so much easier handled. tell you,
Fairbain, your only chance to ever
win the interest of Christie Maclaire
is to help us down this fellow Haw-
ley Yes, you can sit up; I reckon
you're beginning to see clearer, amt
your
| Keith drew aside the flap Of the
tent to glance without, the light fall
ing on Fairbanks face as he struggled
to sitting posture. He had had a
new thought driven into him, yet
failed to entirely grasp its signifi-
canoe.
But, Jack" he asked, still half
angry, "how about the girl? Hasn't
she any right to this money!"
Il don't know" honestly, I'VE don't
any of us know, but whatever she has
the right to she is going to get. You
can bet on that, old man. We're buck
ing Hawley, not Christie Maclaire-
get that into your head. He hasn't any
right, that's certain, for he murdered
and stole to get the papers-be quiet!
Here the fellow comes now!"
| They peered out together through
tho convenient tent nap, Fa1rbain
scarcely less interested than the 9TH
A. oIraoAv Airnlv communicating that