Keith of the Border: A Tale of the Plains

by Randall Parrish

  With her heart throbbing fiercely, Hope clung to the outer door of thevestibule endeavoring to see a little of what was transpiring without.About her was dense darkness, and she dare not explore the surroundings.Behind could be heard, through what must have been a thin partition, thevarious distractions of the stage, shifting scenery, music, shufflingfeet, voices, and the occasional sound of applause. The girl had nervedherself to the encounter with Hawley but this waiting here in darknessand uncertainty tried her to the uttermost. If some one should ventureout that way how could she excuse her presence or explain her purpose?She found herself trembling in every limb from nervous fear, startled byevery strange sound. Would the man never come? Surely Christie herselfmust be ready to depart by this time.

  Almost prepared to flee before the terrors thus conjured up withinher mind, they left her as if by magic the moment her straining eyesdistinguished the approach of a dim figure without. She could not tellwho it was, only that it was the unmistakable form of a man, and that hewas whistling softly to himself. It might not prove to be the gambler,but she must accept the chance, for flesh and blood could stand thestrain of waiting no longer. Yet she was not conscious of fear, onlyof exultation, as she stepped forth into the open, her blood againcirculating freely in her veins. At the slight creak of the door the mansaw her, his whistle ceasing, his hat lifted. Instantly she recognizedhim as Hawley, her heart leaping with the excitement of encounter.

  "Why, hullo, Christie," he said familiarly, "I thought I was early, andexpected a ten minutes' wait. I came out as soon as you left the stage."

  "Oh, I can dress in a jiffy when there is any cause for hurry," Hoperesponded, permitting herself to drift under his guidance. "Are youdisappointed? Would you prefer to commune with nature?"

  "Well, I should say not," drawing her hand through his arm, and thenpatting it with his own. "I have seen about all I care to of nature, butnot of Christie Maclaire."

  "You may learn to feel the same regarding her," Hope answered, afraidto encourage the man, yet eagerly fearful lest she fail to play her partaright.

  "Not the slightest danger," laughing lightly, and pressing her arm moreclosely against his body. "Although I must confess you exhibited sometemper when I was late to-night."

  "Did I not have occasion to? A woman should never be kept waiting,especially if her engagement be imperative."

  "Oh, I am not finding any fault, you little spitfire. I like you allthe better because you fight. But the trouble was, Christie, you simplyjumped on me without even asking how it occurred. You took it forgranted I was late on purpose to spite you."

  "Well, weren't you?" and the girl glanced inquiringly up into hisface, as they passed out of the alley into the light of the Trocadero'swindows. "You certainly acted that way."

  "No, I did not; but you wouldn't listen, and besides I had no time thento explain. There's a lot happened this afternoon I want to tell youabout. Will you give me time to talk with you?"

  "Why, of course," surprised at the question, yet full of eagerness. "Whyshould you ask that?"

  "Because I want you alone where no one can overhear a syllable. I'mafraid of that damned hotel. You never know who is in the next room, andthe slightest whisper travels from one end to the other. That is one wayin which Keith got onto our deal--he had a room next to Willoughbyand Scott, and overheard them talking. I'm not going to take any morechances. Will you go to 'Sheeny Joe's' with me?"

  She drew back from him.

  "'Sheeny Joe's'? You mean the saloon near the depot?"

  "Sure; what's the use of being so squeamish? You sing and dance to asaloon crowd, don't you? Oh, I know you're a good girl, Christie, andall that. I'm not ranking you with these fly-by-nights around here.But there's no reason that I can see why you should shy so at a saloon.Besides, you won't see any one. Joe has got some back rooms where we canbe alone, and have a bite to eat while we're talking. What do you say?"

  "Oh, I would rather not," Hope faltered, bewildered by this unexpectedrequest, already half-tempted to break away and run. "Really I--I don'twant to go there."

  Hawley was evidently surprised at this refusal, naturally supposing fromher life that Miss Maclaire's scruples would be easily overcome. Thisobstinacy of the girl aroused his anger.

  "You women beat the devil," he ejaculated, gruffly, "pretending to be sodamn particular. Maybe you'd rather stand out there on the prairie andtalk?" with a sweep of his hand around the horizon.

  "Yes, I would," catching desperately at the straw. "I'm not afraid ofyou; I'm not blaming you at all, only I--I don't want to go to 'SheenyJoe's.'"

  He looked at her, puzzled at her attitude, and yet somewhat reassuredby her expression of confidence. Oh, well, what was the difference? Itmight be better to let her have her own way, and the change would notmaterially interfere with his plans. Of course, it would be pleasantersitting together at one of Joe's tables, but he could talk just asfreely out yonder under the stars. Besides, it might be as well now tohumor the girl.

  "All right, Christie," his voice regaining its pleasant tone. "You shallhave your way this time. There is too much at stake for us to quarrelover this."

  Frightened, yet not daring to resist or exhibit the least reluctance,she clung to his arm, and permitted him to lead her to the right down adark passage and out into the open land beyond. He had to feel his waycarefully, and scarcely spoke, yet proceeded as though the passage wasreasonably familiar and he had some definite point in view. She answeredin monosyllables, now thoroughly regretful of having permitted herselfto drift into this position, yet not in the least knowing how toextricate herself. Hawley took everything for granted, her very silenceconvincing him of her acquiescence. With throbbing pulse, Hope felt thesmall revolver hidden within her dress, undoing a button so that, inemergency, she might grasp it more quickly. Hawley felt the movement,the trembling of her arm.

  "You are afraid, just the same," he said, pressing her to himlover-like. "Darkness always gets on a woman's nerves."

  "Yes, that and loneliness," resenting his familiarity.

  "Do we need to go any farther? Surely, we are alone here."

  "Only a few steps; the ravine is yonder, and we can sit down on therocks. I want to smoke, and we will be entirely out of sight there."

  He helped her down the rather sharp declivity until both were thoroughlyconcealed below the prairie level. Feeling about with his hands hefound the surface of a smooth rock, and seated her upon it. Then a matchflared, casting an instant's gleam across his face as he lighted hiscigar. Blacker than ever the night shut down about them, and he gropedfor a seat beside her. She could perceive just one star peering througha rift of cloud, and in her nostrils was the pungent odor of tobacco.With a little shiver of disgust she drew slightly away from him,dreading what was to come. One thing alone she felt was in herfavor--however familiar Hawley attempted to be, he was evidently notyet sufficiently sure of Miss Maclaire to become entirely offensive. Shemight not have frowned at his love-making, but apparently he had not yetprogressed sufficiently far in her good graces to venture to extremes.Hope pressed her lips together, determined to resist any furtherapproach of the man. However, his earliest words were a relief.

  "I reckon, Christie," he said slowly, between puffs on his cigar, thelighted end of which faintly illumined his face, "you've got the ideaI have brought you out here to make love. Lord knows I'd like to wellenough, but just now there's more important matters on hand. Fact is, mygirl, we're up against a little back-set, and have got to make a shiftin our plans--a mighty quick shift, too," he added, almost savagely.

  "I--I don't think I understand."

  "No, of course, you don't. You imagine all we've got to do in a matterof this kind is to step into the nearest court, and draw the money. Onetrouble is, our evidence isn't complete--we've got to find that womanwho brought you up."

  "Oh!" said Hope, not knowing what else to say.

  "Yes," he went on, apparently satisfied with her exclamation. "Ofcourse, I know she's dea
d, or at least, you say so, but we haven't gotenough proof without her--not the way old Waite promises to fight yourclaim--and so we've got to hunt for a substitute. Do you happen to knowany old woman about the right age who would make affidavit for you? Sheprobably wouldn't have to go on the stand at all. Waite will cave in assoon as he knows we've got the evidence."

  He waited for an answer, but she hardly knew what to say. Then sheremembered that Keith insisted that Miss Maclaire had no conception thatthere was any fraud in her claim.

  "No, I know no one. But what do you mean? I thought everything wasstraight? That there was no question about my right to inherit?"

  "Well, there isn't, Christie," pulling fiercely on his cigar. "But thecourts are particular; they have got to have the whole thing in blackand white. I thought all along I could settle the entire matter withWaite outside, but the old fool won't listen to reason. I saw him twiceto-day."

  "Twice?" surprise wringing the word from her.

  "Yes; thought I had got him off on a false scent and out of the way, thefirst time, but he turned up again like a bad penny. What's worse, he'sevidently stumbled on to a bit of legal information which makes it saferfor us to disappear until we can get the links of our chain forged. He'staken the case into court already, and the sheriff is here tryin' tofind me so as to serve the papers. I've got to skip out, and so've you."

  "I?" rising to her feet, indignantly. "What have I done to be frightenedover?"

  He laughed, but not pleasantly.

  "Oh, hell, Christie, can't you understand? Old Waite is after you thesame way he is me. It'll knock our whole case if he can get you intocourt before our evidence is ready. All you know is what I have toldyou--that's straight enough--but we've got to have proof. I can get itin a month, but he's got hold of something which gives him a leverage.I don't know what it is--maybe it's just a bluff--but the charge isconspiracy, and he's got warrants out. There is nothing for us to do butskip."

  "But my clothes; my engagement?" she urged, feeling the insistentearnestness of the man, and sparring for delay. "Why, I cannot go.Besides, if the sheriff is hunting us, the trains will be watched."

  "Do you suppose I am fool enough to risk the trains?" he exclaimed,roughly, plainly losing patience. "Not much; horses and the open plainsfor us, and a good night the start of them. They will search for mefirst, and you'll never be missed until you fail to show up at theTrocadero. Never mind the clothes; they can be sent after us."

  "To-night!" she cried, awakening to the immediate danger, and rising toher feet. "You urge me to fly with you to-night?--now?"

  "Sure, don't be foolish and kick up a row. The horses are here waitingjust around the end of the ravine."

  She pressed her hands to her breast, shrinking away from him.

  "No! No! I will not go!" she declared, indignantly. "Keep back! Don'ttouch me!"

  Hawley must have expected the resistance, for with a single movement hegrasped her even as she turned to fly, pinning her arms helplessly toher side, holding her as in a vice.

  "Oh, but you will, my beauty," he growled. "I thought you might act upand I'm ready. Do you think I am fool enough to leave you here alone tobe pumped dry? It is a big stake I'm playing after, girl, and I amnot going to lose it through the whims of a woman. If you won't gopleasantly, then you'll go by force. Keep still, you tigress! Do youwant me to choke you?"

  She struggled to break loose, twisting and turning, but the effortwas useless. Suddenly he whistled sharply. There was the sound of feetscrambling down the path, and the frightened woman perceived the dimoutlines of several approaching men. She gave one scream, and Hawleyreleased his grip on her arms to grasp her throat.

  She jerked away, half-stumbling backward over a rock. The revolver,carried concealed in her dress, was in her hand. Mad with terror,scarcely knowing what she did, she pulled the trigger. In the flash shesaw one man throw up his hands and go down. The next instant the otherswere upon her.

  Chapter XXX. In Christie's Room