Keith paused at the landing, looking down into the deserted office,
almost tempted to return and force Hawley into a confession of his
purpose. It was easy for him to conceive what would be the final result
of this interview between the artistic gambler and Miss Maclaire. In
spite of the vague suspicion of evil which the plainsman had implanted
within the woman's mind, the other possessed the advantage, and would
certainly improve it. All conditions were decidedly in his favor. He
merely needed to convince the girl that she was actually the party
sought, and she would go forward, playing the game he desired, believing
herself right, totally unconscious of any fraud. The very simplicity of
it rendered the plot the more dangerous, the more difficult to expose.
Hawley had surely been favored by fortune in discovering this singer who
chanced to resemble Hope so remarkably, and who, at the same time, was
in such ignorance as to her own parentage. She would be ready to grasp
at a straw, and, once persuaded as to her identity and legal rights,
could henceforth be trusted implicitly as an ally.
Realizing all this, and comprehending also how easily Hawley would win
her confidence and overcome his warning by denouncing him as a fugitive
from justice charged with murder, the temptation to return and fight it
out then and there became almost overpowering. He had no fear of Hawley;
indeed, physical fear had scarcely a place in his composition, but he
was not as yet sufficiently fortified with facts for the seeking of such
an encounter. He could merely guess at the truth, unable to produce any
proof with which to meet the gambler's certain denial.
A man came in through the office, and began climbing the stairs. He was
almost at the landing before Keith recognized him or the other glanced
up.
“Ah--seen her, I suppose?”
“Yes,” returned Keith, not thinking it worth while to mention the lady's
denial of having sent for him, “I have just come from there.”
“Hum--thought you'd be through by this time--fine looking girl, ain't
she?--believe I'll run in and chat with her myself.”
“I would advise you to select some other time, Doctor,” said the
younger, drily, “as the lady has a visitor at present.”
“A visitor?” his face rosy, his shrewd eyes darkening. “Ah, indeed! Of
the male sex?”
“I judge so--'Black Bart' Hawley.”
“Good Lord!” so startled his voice broke. “Did he see you?”
“Rather; I backed him up against the wall with a gun while I made my
adieu.”
“But what brought him there? Are they acquainted?”
“Don't ask conundrums, Doctor. He may be your rival with the fair
lady for all I know. If he is, my sympathies are all with you. Only
I wouldn't try to see Miss Christie just now; I'd wait for a clearer
field. Hawley is probably not in the best of humor.”
Fairbain stared into the face of the speaker, uncertain whether or not
he was being laughed at.
“Reckon you're right,” he acknowledged at last. “Tired, anyhow--been
out all night--thought I'd like to see her again, though--finest looking
woman I've met since I came West--remarkable eyes--well, I'll go along
to bed--see you again to-morrow, Jack.”
Keith watched the sturdy figure stomp heavily down the hall-way, loose
boards creaking under his positive tread, and smiled to himself at the
thought that he might have, indeed, become truly interested in the music
hall singer. Somehow, the doctor did not harmonize with the conception
of love, or fit graciously into the picture. Still, stranger matings had
occurred, and Cupid does not ask permission before he plays pranks with
hearts. Keith turned again toward the stairs, only to observe a woman
slowly cross the office and commence the ascent. She was in the shadow,
her face even more deeply shaded by her hat, yet he stared at her in
amazement--surely, it was Miss Maclaire! Yet how could it be? He had
left that person scarcely five minutes before in “26,” and this stairway
was the only exit. His hand grasped the rail, his heart throbbing
strangely, as a suspicion of the truth crossed his brain. Could this
be Hope? Could it be that she was here also? As her foot touched the
landing, she saw him, her eyes lighting up suddenly in recognition, a
wave of color flooding her cheeks.
“Why, Captain Keith,” she exclaimed, extending her gloved hand frankly,
“you have been to my room, and were going away. I am so glad I came in
time.”
“I hardly thought to meet you,” he replied, retaining her fingers in his
grasp. “When did you reach Sheridan?”
“Only last night. I had no idea you were here, until Doctor Fairbain
chanced to mention your name. Then I at once begged him to tell you how
exceedingly anxious I was to see you. You see, I was sure you would come
if you only knew. I really thought you would be here this morning, and
remained in my room waiting, but there were some things I actually had
to have. I wasn't out ten minutes, so you mustn't think I sent you a
message and then forgot.”
The nature of the mistake was becoming apparent, and Keith's gray eyes
smiled as they looked into the depths of the brown.
“Your message had rather an amusing result,” he said, “as the doctor
informed me that Miss Christie Maclaire was the one who desired my
presence.”
“Miss Maclaire!” her voice exhibiting startled surprise. “Why--why--oh,
I did forget; I never told him differently. Why, it was most
ridiculous.” She laughed, white teeth gleaming between the parted red
lips, yet not altogether happily. “Let me explain, Captain Keith, for
really I have not been masquerading. Doctor Fairbain and I arrived upon
the same train last evening. He is such a funny man, but was very nice,
and offered to escort me to the hotel. I remember now that although he
introduced himself, I never once thought to mention to him my name. The
town was very rough last night--the company had paid off the graders I
was told--and there was no carriage, so we were compelled to walk. I--I
never saw such a mob of drunken men. One came reeling against me, and
brushed aside my veil so as to see my face. The doctor struck him, and
then the marshal came up--you know him, Bill Hickock--and the impudent
fellow actually declared he knew me, that I was Christie Maclaire. I
tried to explain, but they hurried me on through the crowd to the hotel,
and I became confused, and forgot. Do you suppose they registered me by
that name?”
“Quite likely; at least Fairbain still believes it was the fair Christie
whom he so gallantly escorted last night.”
“How provoking,” her foot tapping the floor, a little wrinkle between
her eyes. “It seems as though I couldn't escape that woman--does
she--does she really look like me?”
“At a little distance, yes,” he admitted, “her form and face resemble
yours very closely, but her hair is darker, her eyes have a different
expression, and she must be five or six years older.”
“Do--do you know her well?”
“No, indeed; I have seen her several times on the stage, but never met
her until a few moments ago.”
“A few moments ago! Do you mean she is here in this hotel?”
“Yes, Miss Hope, and that was what made the mistake in names so
laughable. Fairbain gave me your message, but as coming from Christie. I
was, of course, greatly surprised, yet responded. The lady very promptly
denied having sent for me, but as I was anxious to interview her myself,
we managed to drift into conversation, and I must have passed a half
hour there. I might have been there still, but for an interruption.”
“Oh, indeed!” with rising inflection.
He glanced quickly about, reminded of the situation.
“Yes, Hawley came in, and I would prefer not to meet him here, or have
him discover you were in Sheridan. Could we not go to your room? I have
much to tell you.”
Her questioning eyes left his face, and stared down over the rail. A
heavily built man, with red moustache, leaned against the clerk's desk,
his face toward them.
“Do you know that man?” she asked quickly. “He followed me all the time
I was shopping. I--I believe he is the same one who jostled me in the
crowd last night.”
Keith leaned past her to get a better view, but the fellow turned, and
slouched away.
“I only had a glimpse, but have no recollection of ever seeing him
before. You heard no name?”
“'Wild Bill' called him either Scott, or Scotty--if this is the same
man.”
Keith's jaw set, the fighting light burning in his eyes. That was the
name of the fellow rooming with Willoughby, the one who seemed to be
Hawley's special assistant. Was he here as a spy? His hands clinched on
the rail. He was anxious to go down and wring the truth out of him, but
instead, he compelled his eyes to smile, turning back to the girl.
“A mere accident probably; but about my request? May I talk with you a
few moments alone?”
She bowed, apparently still dissatisfied regarding his lengthy
conversation with Christie, yet permitted him to follow down the hall.
She held open the door of “15,” and he entered silently, not wholly
understanding the change in her manner. She stood before the dresser,
drawing off her gloves and removing her hat.
“Will you be seated, Captain; the arm-chair by the window is the more
comfortable.” She turned toward him, almost shyly, yet with womanly
curiosity which would not be stilled. “Was your call upon Miss Maclaire
very interesting? Did you admire her very much?”
Keith's eyes lifted to her face, his ears quick to detect the undertone
in her voice.
“Interesting? yes, for I was seeking after information, and met with
some success. As to the other question, I am not sure whether I admire
the lady or not. She is bright, pretty, and companionable, and in spite
of her profession, at heart, I believe, a good woman. But really, Miss
Hope, I was too deeply immersed in my purpose to give her personality
much consideration. Among other things we spoke of you.”
“Of me? Why?”
“I told her something of our adventures together; of how both Hawley
and I had been confused. She was anxious to learn who you were, but
unfortunately, I have never, even yet, heard your name.”
“You have not?”
“No; I left you at Fort Larned believing you Christie
Maclaire--supposing it your stage name, of course--and was confirmed in
this belief by finding in the holster of the saddle you had been riding
an envelope bearing that address.”
“I remember; it contained the note the man brought to me from Hawley;
he had written it that way.” She crossed the room, sinking down into
a chair facing him. “And you have actually confused me with Christie
Maclaire all this while? Have never known who I was?”
He shook his head.
“I told you to call me Hope; that is my name--I am Hope Waite.”
“Waite!” he leaned forward, startled by the possibility--“not--not--”
“Yes,” she burst in, holding out her hands, clasping the locket, “and
this was my father's; where did you get it?”
He took the trinket from her, turning it over in his fingers. Little by
little the threads of mystery were being unravelled, yet, even now,
he could not see very far. He looked up from the locket into her
questioning face.
“Did I not tell you? No; then it was an oversight. This was about the
throat of one of the men I buried at Cimmaron Crossing, but--but, Hope,
it was not your father.”
“I know,” her voice choking slightly. “Mrs. Murphy found that out; that
is why I am here. I heard my father came to Sheridan, and I wanted you
to help me find him.”
He was thinking, and did not answer at once, and she went on in some
alarm.
“Do you know anything about him, Captain Keith? Where is he? Why is he
here? Don't be afraid to tell me.”
He pressed the locket back into her hand, retaining the latter,
unresisted, within his own.
“I have not seen your father, Hope, but he was certainly here a few days
ago, for Fairbain met him. They were together in the army. I am going to
tell you all I know--it seems to be a tangled web, but the ends must be
somewhere, although, I confess, I am all at sea.”
He told it slowly and simply, bringing forth his earlier suspicion, and
how he had stumbled upon facts apparently confirming them. He related
her father's robbery, his loss of valuable papers, and the conversation
between Hawley and Scott which led to the suspicion that these same
papers had fallen into the hands of the former, and were the basis of
his plot. Hope listened, breathless with interest, her widely opened
eyes filled with wonder. As he concluded speaking she burst forth:
“But I don't understand in the least, Captain Keith. Why did this man
Hawley send me to the Salt Fork?”
“He thought he was dealing with Christie Maclaire. He had some reason
for getting her away; getting her where he could exercise influence over
her.”
“Yes--yes; but who is she?”
“That is what makes the matter so hard to unravel. She doesn't even
know herself. Hawley is going to take advantage of her ignorance in
this respect, and convince her that she is the person he wishes her to
represent--but who is the person? If we knew that we might block the
game.”
Both sat silent, striving to figure out some reasonable explanation.
“Do you know of any special papers your father carried?” he asked.
“No; none outside his business agreements.”
“Has anyone ever disappeared connected with your family? Did you have an
older sister?”
“Fred and I were the only children. Why should you ask that question?”
“Because something of that nature would seem to be the only rational
explanation. Your brother must have told Hawley something--some family
secret--which he felt could be utilized to his own advantage. Then
he saw your picture, and was immediately reminded of the remarkable
resemblance between you and Christie Maclaire. Evidently this discovery
fitted into his plan, and made it possible for him to proceed. He has
been trying ever since to get an interview with the woman, to sound
her, and find out what he can do with her. He has written letters,
sufficiently explicit to make it clear his scheme is based upon a will
drawn, as he claims, by Christie's grandfather. No doubt by this time
he has fully convinced the girl that she is the rightful heiress to
property--as he stated to Scott--valued at over a million dollars.
That's a stake worth fighting for, and these two will make a hard
combination. He's got the papers, or claims to have, and they must be
the ones stolen from your father. I have been trusting you might know
something in your family history which would make it all plain.”
“But I do not,” decisively. “You must believe me; not so much as a
hint of any secret has ever reached me. There are only the four of us,
Father, Mother, Fred, and I. I am sure there can be no secret; nothing
which I would not know. Perhaps, if I could see Miss Maclaire--”
“I am convinced that would be useless,” he interrupted, rising, and
pacing across the floor. “If Hawley has convinced her of the justice of
the claim, he will also have pledged her to secrecy. He is working out
of sight like a mole, for he knows the fraud, and will never come to the
surface until everything is in readiness. I know a better way; I'll
find Fred, and bring him here. He would tell you whatever it was he told
Hawley, and that will give us the clue.”
He picked up his hat from the table, but she rose to her feet, holding
forth her hands.
“I cannot thank you enough. Captain Keith,” she exclaimed frankly. “You
are doing so much, and with no personal interest--”
“Oh, but I have.”
The long lashes dropped over the brown eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“That I have a personal interest--in you, Hope.”
She stood silent, her bosom rising and falling to rapid breathing.
“You don't mind my calling you Hope? I haven't got used to Miss Waite
yet.”
Her eyes met his swiftly.
“Of course, not. Such ceremony would be foolish after all you have done
for me. Do--do you call her Christie?”
He laughed, clasping her hands closer.
“I assure you no--she is strictly Miss Maclaire, and,” solemnly, “shall
be to the end of the chapter.”
“Oh, well, I didn't care, only that was what you called her when you
were telling me what she said. Are you going?”
“Yes, to find Fred; the sooner we can get this straightened out, the
better.”