The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-01-26
CHAPTER xvIlI.-(contlnued.)

"Just little" carelessly; but what
sort of trick could he be working
trying to make you acknowledge
Christie Maclaire as your sister,"
Willoughby did not answer, shifting
uneasily about on the bed. Keith
waited. and at last the boy blurted
out:
- "Oh, It wasn't nothing much. told
him something when was drunk
once. that | thought maybe might
have stuck to him Odd he should
make that mistake. too, for | showed
him Hopes picture Rarts a schemer,
and ! didn't know but what he might
have figured out trick. though
don't see how he could. 1t wasn't no
more than a pipe dream. reckon.
Where did you meet Hope? Back In
Missouri"
"Oh, I've known her some time. Not
long ago did her a service for which
she Is grateful. Did you know she
was out In this country searching for
your"
out here? In Kansas"
Sure: that isn't much Of trip
for a spirited girl. She got 1t in her
head from your letters that you were
in trouble, and set out to find you
and bring you home. She didn't tell
me this, but that Is the way | heard 1t.
1t was for her sake came in here.
Why not 60 to her, Willoughby, and
then both Of you return to Missouri"
The sullenness had gone out OF the
boys face; he looked tired. discour-
aged.
Where is Hope?" he asked
Fort Larned, | suppose. She went
to Carson City first"
We'll. that settles It," shaking his
head. You don't suppose | could 90
browsin' round Larned, and not get
snapped up, do you? They don't chase
deserters very far out here. but that's
the post | skipped FROM and they'd
Jug me all right. Besides, I'm damned
If I'll go back until get a stake.
want to see fellow first"
What fellow?"
well, it's Hawley, II you want to
know so bad. He said II would come
here and wait for him he'd put me on
TO a good thing"
Was there deeply laid plot back Of
all these preparations involving both
WiIloughby and his sister? What
was It Hawley was scheming about so
carefully. holding this boy deserter
in one hand, while he reached out the
other after Christie Maclaire? Surely.
the man was not working blindly; he
must have a purpose in view. VIII
Ioughby had acknowledged be had told
the fellow something once when he
was drunk-about his family history.
no doubt, for he had shown him
Homes picture. What that family
secret was Keith had no means OF
guessing. but Hawley. the moment he
saw the face on the cardboard. had
evidently recognized Christie Maclaire
had thought OF some way in which
what he now knew could be turned
TO advantage The few scattered facts
which Keith had collected all seemed
10 point 10 such a Hawley
had sent the hoy to Sheridan. where
he would be out of sight. with orders
TO walt for him there, and the prom
ise of a stake" to keep him quiet
Then he had gone to independence
and Topeka seeking after Christie
Maclaire. Evidently he meant to keeI
the two apart until he had gained
from each whatever 1t was he
sought But what could that be-
What family secret could WilloughoJ
have burted out In his cups, which
had so stimulated the gamblers wits
Two things combined to cause
Keith to determine be would uncover
this rascality-his desire to repay
Hayley, and his interest in the CIR
rescued on the Salt Fork. This gossa
mer web of intrigue into which he haC
stumbled unwittingly was nothing t'
him personally; had 1t not involved
10th Hawley and Miss Hope. he would
have left II unsolved without another
Thought But under the circumstances
n became his own battle. There wa
= crime here-hidden as yet am
PROBABLY not cOnsummated-inT0'SA'l